[A successful combination therapy with resection and infusion chemotherapy for a patient with metastases from cancer of unknown origin].

A 71-year-old female was admitted to our hospital because of a right inguinal mass in June 1999. She was diagnosed as having cancer of unknown origin with metastases of the right inguinal and pelvic space. These tumors were resected in July 1999, followed by resection of early postoperative relapse in the left inguinal nodes. Histopathological examination revealed that surgical specimens were metastases of bilateral inguinal nodes and pelvic peritoneum from adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. She received adjuvanting combination chemotherapy consisting of continuous oral administration of fluoropyrimidin derivatives and intermittent 24-hour continuous infusion of adriamycin plus mitomycin C for 2 years after resection. No significant adverse effects encountered in any treatment course. She is living healthily 42 months after surgery with no evidence of recurrence. Complete resection in combination with appropriate adjuvant chemotherapy was effective for cancer of unknown origin that had a poor prognosis.