REVIEW OF PRIMARY MULTIPLE CANCERS COMBINED IN THE ESOPHAGUS AND OTHER ORGAN

Abstract

Among 74 patients with esophageal cancer experienced at the department from 1980 to August 1992, 18 patients (24.3%) also had primary cancers of other organs. Clinicopathological features were investigated in these 18 patients. Multiple cancers that were found within one year were regarded as synchronous, and those that were found at an interval longer than one year as heterochronous. There were 11 cases of synchronous and 7 cases of heterochronous multiple cancers, which included one cases of triple or quartet cancer. Of 11 cases of synchronous multiple cancers, 6 cases were found to have an esophageal cancer during preoperative exploration for other organ cancer, which were pharyngolaryngeal cancer for 4 cases, and rectal and lung cancer for each one case. In the meantime, during examination for esophageal cancer one case was found having gastric cancer; and during operation for esophageal cancer each one case was detected to have lung and thyroid cancer, respectively. And, cancers of the colon, liver, tongue, and gingiva were found within one year after the operation. In all heterochronous multiple cancer cases esophageal cancer was preceded by other organ cancer. These were each 2 cases of gastric and larynx cancer, and each one case of lung, colonic, and bile duct cancer, respectively; the last one was detected at 20 months following the esophageal lesion as a triple cancer case. Excision of the esophageal lesion was carried out in 10 synchronous and 4 heterochronous cases. There were 11 mortal patients, and 9 of them died of esophageal cancer, and each one, of lung and bile duct cancer. Four patients have been free of cancer. It can be said that postoperative patients should be followed up by entertaining not only a possibility recurrence but also possible occurrence of malignancy of other organs.