The phenomenon of multiple primary malignant tumor in one patient simultaneously or metachronouslysis no more of medical curiosity. As further advances in cancer therapy bring about a progressively larger percentage of long-term survivors, the proportion of patients with subsquent primary lesions will increase.
The question that has been most frequently addressed in the past regarding multiple cancers of different tissues of origin has been if a patient has developed and survived one cancer, does this imply that he has an overall immunity to the future development of malignant disease or he has an overall immunity to the future development of malignant disease or he has an overall predisposition to cancer. Now, it becomes apparent that the presence of a single malignant tumor does not offer immunity against the development of another primary malignant tumor in the same patient and that most cancer patient he excess risk for specific later cancers, depending on the original cancer type and the knowledge of these risks is of true clinical importance. So, careful follow-up study and early diagnosis of those lesions, based on an awareness of the possibility of second cancer, will substantially increase the survival of these patients.
This report deals with the clinical analysis of 21 cases of multiple primary malignant tumors from tumor registry of Severance Hospital during 3 years from July 1980 to June 1983. The following results were obtained.
1) The incidence of multiple primary malignant tumor was 0.3% (21/6651) and the mean age of 7 male patients at 1st cancer was 64. 2 years old and 14 female patients was 50. 8 years old. All 21 cases were double primary tumors.
2) The metachronous tumor was found in 12 cases and the mean time interval between 1st and 2nd cancer was 80.9 months.
3) In male patients, the lung cancer was most common 1st cancer followed by stomach cancer. In female patients, the Ca. of Cx. was most common 1st cancer.
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