MULTIPLE PRIMARY MALIGNANT TUMORS OF THE BREAST ASSOCIATED WITH OTHER ORGANS

Abstract

During the past 20 years, we have treated 570 female primary breast cancers. Of these, 17 breast cancers (3.0%) were primary multiple malignant tumors with malignancies of other organs. The definition of primary multiple malignant tumors was based on the report by Warren & Gates. When multiple tumors were detected within one year, the tumors were considered as synchronous; otherwise, tumors detected at an interval period of over one year were metachronous. In 17 primary multiple tumors of the breast and other organs, 4 were synchronous. In the remaining 13 metachronous tumors, the breast cancers preceded in 6, and other organ tumors preceded in 7. The organs where other tumors occurred included the uterus in 35.3%, the stomach in 23.5%, and the rectum in 11.8%. As of the interval period for detection, 4 metachronous second tumors were found more than 10 years following identification of the first tumors. The relation with postoperative adjuvant therapy indicated that 5.7% of total breast cancers which were treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy were associated with occurrence of multiple tumors. Prognosis of these multiple malignant tumors was dependent on the organs involved and the staging of the tumors. The present study suggests that careful postoperative follow-up for more than 10 years is needed after treatment of the first developed malignant tumors.