Multiple Primary Carcinomas as Sequelae of Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis with Repeated Induced Pneumothoraces Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A case is presented of a patient with four separate primary carcinomas (two breast, one thyroid, one multiple skin cancers) arising in areas of the body subject to repeated low-dose radiation exposure during artificial pneumothorax treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Evidence for ionizing radiation as the likely common etiologic agent for all four tumors is presented and substantiated by a review of the literature.