SynthesisThe British journal of radiology2025
Imaging of cancer of unknown primary: a systematic literature review of the past, present, and future.
Synthesis in The British journal of radiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Integrating artificial intelligence into cancers of unknown primary diagnosis and treatment.iScience · 2026Review
- Tumor morphology on CT radiomics is largely driven by the local anatomical environment, not the primary tumor type.European radiology experimental · 2026Article
- ESR Bridges: new developments in imaging and treatment of the unknown primary squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck-a multidisciplinary view.European radiology · 2026Article
- Contralateral axillary lymph node and chest wall skin recurrence 2 years after radical mastectomy for breast cancer: a case report and literature review.AME case reports · 2026Article
- Case Report: Interpectoral lymph node metastasis as an indicator of occult breast cancer: a case of double primary malignancy.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Article
- Transforming Breast Imaging: A Narrative Review of Systematic Evidence on Artificial Intelligence in Mammographic Practice.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Preparing for the Era of Multiple Primary Cancers: A Prevention-Centered Model for Survivorship Medicine.Technology in cancer research & treatmentArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
16 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo evaluate the evolution and current diagnostic capabilities of medical imaging in cancer of unknown primary (CUP) and explore promising technologies for enhancing diagnostic precision.
methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across MEDLINE, Embase, and Scopus in March 2023 (updated in August 2024) to identify original articles focusing on CUP imaging. Two reviewers independently selected articles and extracted data. Quality assessment was performed using QUADAS-2 and Radiomics Quality Score. Given the variability in study designs, imaging techniques, and reported outcomes, a narrative synthesis was performed. Subgroup analyses compared detection rates across modalities.
resultsFrom 4760 de-duplicated search results, 140 original articles were included. Early CUP imaging relied on 2D modalities with notable diagnostic limitations. Modern 3D modalities have risen in prominence, though mammography and ultrasound remain in CUP guidelines. Implementing CT and MRI significantly improved primary tumour detection and disease characterization. CT is fundamental for CUP evaluation, and MRI offers superior soft tissue resolution, effective for detecting occult breast cancer, head and neck primaries, and suspected abdominopelvic neoplasms. FDG-PET/CT showed varying primary detection capabilities, adding value in identifying lesions/metastases missed by other modalities, essential for confirming locoregional treatment strategies. Emerging technologies for CUP imaging include whole-body MRI, FAPI-PET/CT, and AI/radiomics.
conclusionsAdvancements in imaging have improved the diagnostic workup for CUP. Innovative approaches show potential for further improvement in diagnostic accuracy. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This study provides a comprehensive overview of CUP imaging and introduces emerging modalities that could boost diagnostic accuracy. PROSPERO REGISTRATION: CRD42023453393.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.