Autopsy findings in cases with a clinically uncertain cancer diagnosis

Analysis of the post mortem and clinical evaluation of the underlying cause of death in 471 cancer patients showed that doubt in the clinical situation occurred in approximately one case in four. Doubt was of three kinds, that as to the site of origin of the cancer, that related to lack of morphological confirmation and that as to the aetiology of the disease process. In most cases in the first two groups the decision not to resolve the doubt until post mortem was made clinically. The majority of the others were admitted too late for the doubt to be resolved before death.