Familial risk factors for a second primary malignancy in endometrial or ovarian carcinoma.

Abstract

To elucidate the risk factor for a second primary carcinogenesis in endometrial or ovarian carcinoma patients. Endometrial and ovarian carcinoma patients treated from 1975 through 1990 were analyzed clinicopathologically. The incidence of patients with a second primary malignancy was 10.5% (28/267) in endometrial carcinoma cases, and 9.0% (13/144) in ovarian carcinoma cases. Endometrial carcinoma patients whose parents, siblings, and/or children had developed malignant diseases were at risk for a second primary malignancy. This familial factor is also believed to be a risk factor for ovarian carcinoma patients, but the results lacked statistical significance. There also was no statistical significance with respect to smoking and/or alcohol consumption. More than one-half of the second primary carcinomas were breast, colon, or stomach carcinomas. Cancer patients with this familial high-risk factor should be carefully and regularly followed up by monitoring at every anatomic site, especially the breast, stomach, and colon, in order that the development of a second primary carcinoma can be detected as early as possible, and not be overlooked in examinations.