TABLE 1

Detailed Literature Search

Search strategy no.Literature search strategies (combination of terms)Results (no. of references)
Identified*Complied with inclusion criteria†
1Unknown primary tumor and PET3913
2Unknown primary tumor and FDG2413
3Occult primary tumor and PET399
4Occult primary tumor and FDG229
5Unknown primary and PET8016
6Unknown primary and FDG4316
7FDG and PET and metastatic tumors51
8Neoplasm and unknown primary and FDG and PET93
9Carcinoma of unknown primary and FDG and PET11
10Primary tumor and FDG PET and detection289
Total no. of references29090

  • ↵* No. of references identified that were published between January 1994 and May 2001.

  • ↵† No. of references that complied with inclusion criteria. Following stage was to apply exclusion criteria.