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Radiological evidence of lytic bone lesions has a wide differential diagnosis including metastatic bone disease, multiple myeloma, primary bone cancers and infection. Here, we present the case of a woman in her 80s found to have lytic bone lesions associated with an IgA paraproteinaemia who was thus presumed to have a diagnosis of multiple myeloma. However, bone marrow biopsy results were indicative of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. She was subsequently referred to the 'carcinoma of unknown primary (CUP) team', and ultimately diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer following a repeat trephine biopsy. A range of conditions may present with lytic bone lesions and these differentials must be suitably investigated even in the presence of paraproteinaemia. Early CUP team involvement is pivotal to ensure appropriate clinical management and patient support., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2023. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

We report a rare presentation of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a 71-year-old man who presented with persistent shoulder pain. MRI revealed widespread lytic lesions within the bones suggestive of metastatic disease but extensive imaging including CT chest, abdomen and pelvis with contrast and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography did not identify a primary cancer. The diagnosis was ultimately made from a targeted bone and subsequently targeted liver biopsy, whereby immunohistochemistry was consistent with metastatic RCC (mRCC). While bone metastases in RCC are very common, it is extremely rare for patients to present with mRCC and no identifiable renal primary., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

A 63-year-old man, a wheelchair user, from primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), presented with an episode of expressive dysphasia and confusion. Cerebral imaging revealed a solitary cerebral mass that was radiologically felt to be a primary brain tumour, but a brain biopsy demonstrated an adenocarcinoma in keeping with brain metastasis. Further immunohistochemistry suggested a probable colorectal primary. Subsequent staging confirmed a primary cancer within the caecum/terminal ileum, with extensive bilobar unresectable liver metastases. Unfortunately, as a consequence of the heavy tumour burden and rapid disease progression, the patient deteriorated rapidly and, due to his poor performance status, palliative chemotherapy was not deemed suitable. He was offered palliative whole brain radiotherapy to help control his symptoms, but he declined. He subsequently died at home a few weeks later, as per his wishes., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

Patients presenting with ascites associated with peritoneal disease have a wide differential diagnosis including both malignant and non-malignant related causes. We present the unusual case of a patient, clinically deteriorating, whose malignant peritoneal disease was due to an underlying follicular lymphoma. An urgent staging CT scan followed by a peritoneal biopsy allowed the patient to start chemotherapy within days of acute presentation to the hospital. This case emphasises the importance of obtaining tissue diagnosis urgently in these patients to ensure that the correct treatment can be started in a timely manner., (2015 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)

A 71-year-old patient receiving combination chemotherapy (irinotecan, oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)) for metastatic pancreas cancer was admitted after her first cycle of chemotherapy with a severe and unexpectedly prolonged episode of neutropenic sepsis associated with pancytopenia and marked mucositis. Owing to the unusual picture, the patient was tested for mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD)--an enzyme involved in the metabolism of the chemotherapy drug 5-FU. The patient was found to be heterozygous for a mutation, DPD IVS14+1G>A, leading to the severe toxicity exhibited following this regimen caused by delayed metabolism of 5-FU. She was treated aggressively with supportive care and recovered from this episode. Importantly she was subsequently switched to an alternative chemotherapy regimen to treat her disease. She continues to maintain an excellent quality of life some 9 months after her initial diagnosis on third-line chemotherapy.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known as the 'great imitator' mimicking a myriad of conditions often resulting in a delayed diagnosis. We report a case with multisite adenopathy radiologically suggestive of lymphoma who initially was referred to the 'Cancer of Unknown Primary' team. Following a re-evaluation of the case the patient was diagnosed with SLE and was started on appropriate therapy. Many conditions presenting to oncology may mimic cancer which needs to be borne in mind when assessing referred cases.