Comparative analysis between pre- and post-carcinoma of unknown primary service
| Number of patients pre-MUO/CUP service, n=32, n (%) | Number of patients post-MUO/CUP service, n=42, n (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| Final diagnosis | ||
| Confirmed CUP | 7 (21.88%) | 6 (14.29%) |
| MUO with no tissue diagnosis | 13 (40.63%) | 12 (28.57%) |
| Non-epithelial or haematological malignancy | - | 2 (4.76%) |
| Tumour site identified | 12 (37.50%) | 22 (52.38%) |
| Identified tumour site | ||
| Brain | - | 1 (2.38%) |
| Breast | - | 4 (9.52%) |
| Germ cell tumour | - | 1 (2.38%) |
| Head and neck | 2 (6.25%) | 1 (2.38%) |
| GI/HPB | 8 (25.00%) | 11 (26.19) |
| Lung | - | 3 (7.14%) |
| Urothelial | - | 1 (2.38%) |
| Neuroendocrine | 1 (3.13%) | - |
| Ovarian/endometrial | 1 (3.13%) | - |
| Specialist palliative care review | ||
| Yes | 27 (84.38%) | 35 (83.33%) |
| Not required | ? | 6 (14.29%) |
| Refused | ? | 1 (2.38%) |
| Place of death | ||
| Home | 18 (56.25%) | 17 (40.48%) |
| Hospice | 3 (9.38%) | 1 (2.38%) |
| Hospital | 10 (31.25%) | 16 (38.10%) |
| Not applicable | 1 (3.13%) | 8 (19.05%) |
| Treatment outcomes | ||
| Best supportive care | 29 (90.63%) | 22 (52.38%) |
| Actively treated with anti-cancer therapies | 3 (9.38%) | 20 (47.62%) |
| SACT only | 1 (3.13%) | 6 (14.29%) |
| XRT only | 1 (3.13%) | 6 (14.29%) |
| Surgery only | - | 1 (2.38%) |
| SACT + XRT | - | 5 (11.90%) |
| Surgery + XRT | 1 (3.13%) | 1 (2.38%) |
| Surgery + SACT + XRT | - | 1 (2.38%) |
| Length of stay, median (95% CI), days | 11.25 (7.00–20.00) | 7.75 (6.25–11.00) p=0.037 |
CI = confidence interval; CUP = carcinoma of unknown primary; GI/HPB = gastrointestinal/hepatobiliary; MUO = malignancy of undefined primary origin; SACT = systemic anti-cancer therapy; XRT = radiotherapy.