Synchronous Malignancies Research Articles

Challenges in the Diagnosis of Biliary Malignancies: Klatskin Tumor, A Case Report

Klatskin described cholangiocarcinomas arising at the level of the hepatic duct bifurcation in 1965, hence its name (1). They comprise 3% of all the gastrointestinal malignancies from the biliary tract. In the United States the higher prevalence ranks among African Americans and Asian Pacific Islanders (2). Due to the location of these lesions and non-specific symptoms, they are usually caught on very late stages, making treatment and prognosis an issue. At the same time, diagnosis can be challenging as invasive procedures like endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and tissue biopsy are required for a better characterization of any lesion in the biliary tree. We report the case of a 74 years old male who presented with jaundice, abdominal pain, dark loose stools and weight loss for three months. He was noted to have a total bilirubin of 14mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase 888mg//dl. A computer tomography showed a perforation vs malignancy in the gallbladder surrounded by pericholic abscess. He received a course of antibiotics to prevent cholangitis. A drain was placed relieving the obstruction; the cholangiogram revealed an obstruction at the confluence of the left and right hepatic ducts. The Radiology service considered a MRCP would not be beneficial due to high amount of gas and stones. Surgery determined that a biopsy could not be done due to inaccessibility and also he was a poor surgical candidate for any intervention. Tumoral markers were elevated. We could not establish the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma by tissue biopsy although the tumor markers and location of the lesion were highly suggestive for Klatskin tumor. Due to poor prognosis, the patient opted for hospice care. As mentioned before, the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma can be challenging due to its location and, like in this case, the possibility of synchronous malignancies (gallbladder). A proper diagnosis can be made through lesion biopsy. Unfortunately, just 26% of patients are surgery candidates either due to poor prognosis, late stage of diagnosis or multiple comorbidities (3). ERCP/MRCP are very useful imaging techniques that allow a fairly direct visualization of the biliary tree, however, due to the amount of gas and stones, this modality is not always optimal. The prognosis of these malignancies is very bad, around 7 months since the time of diagnosis. Poor prognostic factors are: the presence of metastasis, perineural invasion or involvement of the cystic duct.(4)2907_A Figure 1. Severe intrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation. Pericholecystic abscess.2907_B Figure 2. Obstruction at the level of hepatic cysts bifurcation concerning for malignancy.

MicroRNA Profiling of Salivary Duct Carcinoma Versus Her2/Neu Overexpressing Breast Carcinoma Identify miR-10a as a Putative Breast Related Oncogene.

Salivary duct carcinomas (SDC) and Her2/Neu3-overexpressing invasive breast carcinomas (HNPIBC/IBC) are histologically indistinguishable. We investigated whether common histopathologic and immunophenotypic features of SDC and IBC are mirrored by a similar microRNA (miRNA) profile. MiRNA profiling of 5 SDCs, 6 IBCs Her2/Neu3+, and 5 high-grade ductal breast carcinoma in situ (DCIS) was performed by NanoString platform. Selected miRNAs and HOXA1 gene were validated by RT-PCR. We observed similar miRNA expression profiles between IBC and SDC with the exception of 2 miRNAs, miR-10a and miR-142-3p, which were higher in IBC tumors. DCIS tumors displayed increased expression of miR-10a, miR-99a, miR-331-3p and miR-335, and decreased expression of miR-15a, miR-16 and miR-19b compared to SDC. The normal salivary gland and breast tissues also showed similar expression profiles. Interestingly, miR-10a was selectively increased in both IBC and normal breast tissue compared to SDC and normal salivary gland tissue. Moreover, our NanoString and RT-PCR data confirmed that miR-10a was upregulated in IBC and DCIS compared to SDC. Finally, we show downregulation of HOXA1, a miR-10 target, in IBC tumors compared to normal breast tissue. Taken together, our data demonstrates that, based on miRNA profiling, SDC is closely related to HNPIBC. Our results also suggest that miR-10a is differentially expressed in IBC compared to SDC and may have potential utility as a diagnostic biomarker in synchronous or metachronous malignant epithelial malignancies involving both organs. In addition, miR-10a could be playing an important role as a mammary-specific oncogene, involved in breast cancer initiation (DCIS) and progression (IBC), through mechanisms that include modulation of HOXA1 gene expression.

A left-sided cystic pancreatic incidentaloma with sigmoid colon adenocarcinoma: a case report

BackgroundThe synchronous colorectal malignancy is well described in the literature but combination of pancreatic incidentaloma with sigmoid cancer has not been well described and the association has not been described in syndrome.Case presentationA 65-year-old man from the Indian subcontinent with a history of abdominal pain with loss of appetite, and with a history of bleeding per rectum and altered bowel habits presented to our hospital. An abdominal examination revealed a palpable mass in the region of his epigastrium and left hypochondrium, and a rectal examination was normal. A work-up included blood investigations, an abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan, a colonoscopy, and a positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan. He was managed by simultaneous distal pancreaticosplenectomy and radical sigmoidectomy. The final histopathology results were suggestive of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon with serous cystadenoma of the pancreas.ConclusionsThe synchronous sigmoid colon cancer and pancreatic cystic incidentaloma is a rare presentation, which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been reported in the literature. We report the surgical management of this case and present a review of the literature. Genetic studies may be conducted to find out whether there is common genetic mutation resulting in these two malignancies, and may be helpful in screening programs.

Second malignancy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): prevalence and overall survival (OS) in routine clinical practice

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a prior or synchronous second malignancy are generally excluded from clinical trials. Therefore, little is known on prevalence and prognosis of these patients. 1252 patients diagnosed with NSCLC in our center from 2006 to 2017 were studied. Overall survival (OS) of patients with a prior or synchronous malignancy was compared to controls including case-control analysis. 158 patients (12.6%) had a prior malignancy. The most common sites were prostate (17%), breast (16%), gastrointestinal tract (12%), head and neck (11%), bladder (10%), and lung (8%). Compared to controls, patients with prior malignancy were older (71.3 vs. 67.5years), but had otherwise better prognostic characteristics (stage I-III 63 vs. 53%). Survival was identical compared to controls [hazard ratio (HR) 1.017, CI 0.776-1.333]. A further 3.5% of patients had a synchronous malignancy including 34% prior lung cancer. Patients with a synchronous malignancy had an earlier stage (I-III 84%), and had longer median OS in unselected patients (38.6 vs. 16.2months, p = 0.021). However, the case-control analysis showed similar OS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.899, CI 0.497-1.621]. Prior or synchronous second malignancies are common at diagnosis of NSCLC. The sites reflect the high proportion of smokers in the population. The earlier stage of NSCLC with a second malignancy might be attributed to chance finding of NSCLC during follow-up. The second malignancy does not affect OS of NSCLC. Therefore, the exclusion of patients with second malignancies from NSCLC trials should be reconsidered.

Case Report: Synchronous primary malignancy including the breast and endometrium.

Breast and endometrial cancer are the most common types of female cancers, but the incidence of both of these malignancies in a single patient is a rare event. Multiple primary malignancy has been increasingly reported over the past decade, and double primary cancer is considered as the most common type. In this study, we present a 53-year-old woman with synchronous primary malignancy of breast and endometrium. This patient had a history of breast and endometrial cancer in her family. Mammography and chest CT of the patient revealed a mass in the right breast and left supraclavicular region. However, the patient did not want to initiate treatment. Subsequently, the patient returned with a chief complaint of persistent abnormal vaginal bleeding. Abdominopelvic CT scan of the patient revealed a huge soft tissue mass in the pelvic cavity. She underwent hysterectomy, and pathology revealed endometrioid carcinoma, which had invaded the full thickness of uterine wall. Since this type of malignancy is rare and several risk factors are associated with it, it is worth being considered by clinicians when making decisions about screening or strategy for prevention.

Synchronous and antecedent malignancies in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate concurrently detected second primary malignancy in the patients who underwent surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the files of the patients who underwent surgery for papillary thyroid carcinoma between 2000-2017. A total number of 601 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were evaluated. Among these patients, 48 patients were found to have secondary primary tumors. Preoperative and postoperative laboratory examination findings of the patients were retrospectively recorded. Results. Among 601 patients with papillary thyroid cancer evaluated with respect to radiation exposure, the second primary tumor with breast cancer was found to be the most common tumor. Renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma and stomach cancer were found to be more frequent when evaluated regardless of radiation effect. Furthermore, when molecular genetic results were evaluated, BRAF mutation rate was found to be more frequent than in other secondary tumors, especially in patients with renal cell carcinoma. Conclusions. The importance of epidemiological and experimental studies of multiple cancers is obvious. Although it is known that the impact of radiation is considerable among the ones with concurrence of breast cancer and papillary thyroid carcinoma, we suggest that further studies on common molecular genetic characteristics and development of targeted treatment for detected molecules are required in the patients with renal cell carcinoma in whom papillary thyroid carcinoma is diagnosed regardless of radiation effect.

Triple Synchronous Primary Malignancies of Ovary, Endometrium and Cervix – A Rare Case Report

Triple Synchronous Primary Malignancies of Ovary, Endometrium and Cervix – A Rare Case Report

Synchronous dual hematological malignancies: new or underreported entity?

ABSTRACT Background: Patients with a single hematological malignancy may be unexpectedly diagnosed with a clonally unrelated synchronous dual hematological malignancy (SDHM). The presence of a secondary hematological malignancy may be overlooked and only identified in situations presenting with discordant clinical or laboratory findings. Clinical management of these patients can be challenging, in part due to the relatively unknown etiopathology of SDHM and the impact of therapy on the secondary malignancy. Objectives: To assess, characterize patients with synchronous double hematological malignancies and share our experience with this challenging group of patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 3036 patients with hematological malignancy at our cancer center between February 2013 and July 2017. Results and discussion: We identified 46 patients with SDHM, a prevalence of 1.51% among patients diagnosed with any hematological malignancy. We identify several heterogeneous combinations of SDHM comprised of myeloid and/or lymphoid lineages and provide our experience with managing patients with these underreported conditions. Conclusion: SDHMs are not uncommon and should be suspected in situations presenting with unusual or unexpected findings.

Synchronous malignancies in patients with breast cancer

Introduction . The continuously improving cancer detection at an early stage and improving survival rates have been observed and, therefore, patients are predisposed to detection of multiple primaries. It has been reported that the incidence of multiple primaries in breast cancer patients ranges from of 4% to 17%. Materials and methods. A group of 112 breast cancer patients with synchronous malignancies was presented. They constituted 0.09% of patients (118,952 cases) who were treated for breast cancer at the same time period, and made up 3.5% of all patients (3,176 cases) with multiple primary cancers, and 21.7% of all patients (517 cases) with breast cancer who developed multiple primaries. Results. The most frequent type of synchronous primary malignancy was breast cancer (63.4%) and 90.1% of them were diagnosed at the same time or within one month following the first breast cancer diagnosis. Among cases of non-breast synchronous primaries, female genital organ malignancies were predominant (36.6%). Synchronous breast cancer was diagnosed significantly earlier than non-breast cancers (mean time was 0.4 and 1 month, respectively, p = 0.0123). Better results in the group with synchronous contralateral breast cancer in comparison to synchronous breast and non-breast cancer were observed (5-year overall survival rates were 90.9% and 66.3%, respectively, and 5-year disease-free survival rate — 62.5% and 51.3%, respectively).

Does volumetric measurement of cervical lymph nodes serve as an imaging biomarker for locoregional recurrence of oral squamous cell carcinoma?

IntroductionRecent studies highlighted the prognostic superiority of lymph node volume towards the conventional N Classification. However, data on the importance of neck lymph node volume, obtained by semiautomatic segmentation of CT images, do not exist for locoregional recurrence in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). MethodsRetrospective chart review of 100 patients, who were diagnosed and treated between 2006–2014. Inclusion criteria were patients with treatment-naive oral squamous cell carcinoma and primarily curative intended surgery with negative resection margins, for whom a preoperative computed tomography (CT) of the head and neck region was performed. Furthermore, comprehensive neck dissection (level I-V) due to ipsilateral lymph node metastasis was chosen as inclusion criterion. Exclusion criteria were neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, T4b classification, perioperative death, unresectable disease, synchronous malignancy, follow-up < 3 months and inadequate information to correctly determine clinicopathological characteristics. ResultsPathological N Classification (p = 0.001), central necrosis (p = 0.008) and lymph node volume (p < 0.001) significantly affected locoregional recurrence (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated N Classification (p = 0.06) and volume (p < 0.001) as indepedent risk factors for locoregional recurrence. ConclusionVolumetric measurement serves as a better risk stratification tool than the conventional N Classification for OSCC. A lymph node volume of more than 6.86 cm3 goes along with a 20-fold higher risk for locoregional failure.

The importance of lymph node ratio for patients with mandibular infiltration of oral squamous cell carcinoma

PurposeLymph node ratio (LNR) essentially improves assessment of prognosis and therapeutic decision making for patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, as it considers both the number of positive lymph nodes and the number of dissected lymph nodes. Mandibular infiltration by oral squamous cell carcinoma is a vital clinicopathological feature, significantly worsens prognosis. However, to the best of our knowledge, data on the influence of LNR on prognosis for patients with OSCC and mandibular infiltration are not available. Materials and methodsA retrospective chart review of 89 patients with treatment-naive oral squamous cell carcinoma and histopathologically proven mandibular infiltration (pT4a) was performed. Exclusion criteria were primarily curative intended surgery (radical tumor resection, neck dissection and segmental mandibulectomy) with negative resection margins. Exclusion criteria were neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, erosive infiltration of the mandible, T4b classification, perioperative death, unresectable disease, synchronous malignancy, follow-up <3 months, and inadequate information to correctly determine clinicopathological characteristics. ResultsWe observed a significant correlation on univariate analysis between locoregional recurrence and pathologic N classification (p = 0.004), perineural invasion (p = 0.005) and lymph node ratio (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, lymph node ratio (p = 0.028) was shown to be an independent indicator for locoregional recurrence. ConclusionLNR predicted locoregional recurrence better than the conventional nodal staging system and therefore might serve as a more precise risk stratification tool. LNR >7% led to a 11.419-fold higher risk for locoregional recurrence of patients with mandibular infiltration due to OSCC.

Multiple Primary Malignancies of Cancer of Ovary and Cervix in A Young Woman: A Rare Case Report

Cancer is a growing and evolving epidemic. Multiple primary malignancies is a documented entity and can be synchronous or metachronous depending on the time of diagnosis of the two malignant tumors. We present a case of synchronous female gynecological malignancies involving the ovary (papillary serous adenocarcinoma) and cervix (squamous cell carcinoma grade III). The different histopathology of the two tumors and the tumor-free intervening endometrium, myometrium and fallopian tubes made it a clear diagnosis of two separate primaries. Thorough examination of all patients of cancer and keeping the possibility of such tumors in mind can help diagnose more such cases and study their pathogenesis and determine their risk factors.

MicroRNA signatures discriminate between uterine and ovarian serous carcinomas

Synchronous endometrial and ovarian malignancies occur in 5% of women presenting with endometrial cancer and 10% of patients presenting with ovarian malignancy. When a high-grade serous carcinoma concurrently involves both ovary and endometrium, pathological determination of whether they are synchronous primaries or metastatic tumors from one primary site can be challenging. MicroRNAs (miRNA) are 22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs that are aberrantly expressed in cancer cells and may inherit their cellular lineage characteristics. We explored possible differential miRNA signatures that may separate high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma from primary endometrial serous carcinoma. Forty-seven samples of histologically pure high-grade serous carcinoma of both uterine (16 case) and ovarian primaries (31 cases) were included. Expression of 384 mature miRNAs was analyzed using ABI TaqMan Low-Density Arrays technology. A random forest model was used to identify miRNAs that together could differentiate between uterine and ovarian serous carcinomas. Among 150 miRNAs detectable at various levels in the study cases, a panel of 11-miRNA signatures was identified to significantly discriminate between ovarian and uterine serous carcinoma (P < .05). A nested cross-validated convergent forest plot using 6 of the 11 miRNA signature was eventually established to classify the tumors with 91.5% accuracy. In conclusion, we have characterized a miRNA signature panel in this exploratory study that shows significant discriminatory power in separating primary ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma from its endometrial counterpart.

Phenotypic appearances of prostate utilizing PET-MRI and PET-CT with 68Ga-PSMA, radiolabelled choline and 68Ga-DOTATATE.

The objective of this study was to highlight the role of multimodality imaging and present the differential diagnosis of abnormal tracer accumulation in the prostate and periprostatic tissue. Our departments have performed molecular imaging of the prostate utilizing PET-CT and PET-MRI with a range of biomarkers including F-FDG, radiolabelled choline, Ga-DOTATATE PET-CT and Ga-PSMA images. We retrospectively reviewed the varying appearances of the prostate gland in different diseases and incidental findings in periprostatic region. The differential diagnosis of pathologies related to prostate and periprostatic tissue on multimodality imaging includes malakoplakia, rhabdomyosarcoma, lymphoma, prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumours, uchida changes, rectoprostatic fistula, synchronous malignancies, lymphocoele and schwanoma. There exists a wide differential for abnormal tracer accumulation in the prostate gland. As a radiologist and nuclear medicine physician, it is important to be aware of range of prostatic and periprostatic pathologies.

Synchronous Triple Malignancy of Upper Aero Digestive Tract

Synchronous Triple Malignancy of Upper Aero Digestive Tract

A Phase I Clinical Trial of Targeted Intraoperative Molecular Imaging for Pulmonary Adenocarcinomas

Intraoperative identification of pulmonary nodules, particularly small lesions, can be challenging. We hypothesize that folate receptor-targeted intraoperative molecular imagining can be safe and improve localization of pulmonary nodules during resection. Twenty subjects with biopsy-proven pulmonary adenocarcinomas were enrolled in a phase I clinical trial to test the safety and feasibility of OTL38, a novel folate receptor-α (FRα) targeted optical contrast agent. During resection, tumors were imaged in situ and exvivo and fluorescence was quantified. Resected specimens were analyzed to confirm diagnosis, and immunohistochemistry was utilized to quantify FRα expression. A multivariate analysis using clinical and tumor data was performed to determine variables impacting tumor fluorescence. Of the 20 subjects, three grade I adverse events were observed: all transient nausea/abdominal pain. All symptoms resolved after completing the infusion. Sixteen of 20 subjects (80%) had tumors with in situ fluorescence with a mean tumor-to-background fluorescence level of 2.9 (interquartile range, 2.1 to 4.2). The remaining 4 subjects' tumors fluoresced exvivo. Insitu fluorescence was dependent on depth from the pleural surface. Four subcentimeter nodules not identified on preoperative imaging were detected with intraoperative imaging. This phase I trial provides preliminary evidence suggesting that folate receptor-targeted molecular imaging with OTL38 is safe, with tolerable grade I toxicity. These data also suggest that OTL38 accumulates in known lung cancers and may improve identification of synchronous malignancies. Our group is initiating a five-center, phase II study to better understand the clinical implications of intraoperative molecular imaging using OTL38.

Clinicopathological Features and Management of Appendiceal Mucoceles: A Systematic Review

Appendiceal mucoceles (AMs) are rare mucin-containing neoplasms with malignant potential. Lack of evidence-based data exists defining clinicopathological features for management. MEDLINE search between 1995 and 2015 was performed using search criteria "Appendix mucocele." Systematic review of patient-, pathologic-, and treatment-related characteristics was performed and data analyzed. Among 276 cases of non-perforated AMs, 163 (59%) patients were female, with variable and nonspecific presentation. Patients were treated with appendectomy (52.1%), right hemicolectomy (17.6%), partial cecectomy (17.2%), and ileocecetomy (13.1%). Pathologic evaluation revealed the following: cystadenoma/low-grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm (54%), unspecified/benign (25%), retention cyst (14.1%), cystadenocarcinoma (4.2%), and mucosal hyperplasia (2.9%). All 11 (4.2%) patients with cystadenocarcinoma were female (P = 0.004), odds ratio for malignancy 1.07 times higher for women. Synchronous colonic malignancy was reported in three patients (27%) with cystadenocarcinoma (P = 0.007), odds ratio of 12.1. AMs have low risk for malignancy. Treatment should begin with appendectomy-only and subsequently guided by pathologic diagnosis.

Breast MR Imaging before Surgery: Outcomes in Patients with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma by Using Propensity Score Matching.

Purpose To investigate the association between preoperative breast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and surgical outcomes in patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) by using propensity score matching to decide whether MR examination is beneficial in the ILC subtype of breast cancer. Materials and Methods The authors identified 603 patients with ILC who underwent surgery between January 2005 and December 2016. Of the 603 patients, 369 (61.2%) underwent MR imaging. The authors calculated the MR detection rate of additional lesions that were occult at mammography and ultrasonography and analyzed any alterations in surgical management. After propensity score matching, 196 pairs of patients were allocated to the groups, and the 17 possible confounding variables regarding patient and tumor characteristics and various clinical features were well balanced between the patients who underwent MR imaging and those who did not. Surgical outcomes were compared. Results Of the 369 patients who underwent MR imaging, additional lesions were detected in 145 (39.3%); 95 of the 145 patients (65.5%) had malignant lesions. A change in surgical management occurred because of MR findings in 94 of the 369 patients (25.5%). According to pathologic findings, this change was appropriate for 84 of the 94 patients (89.4%). In the propensity score-matched analysis, breast MR imaging was associated with lower odds of repeat surgery (odds ratio, 0.140; P < .001) and similar likelihood of initial mastectomy (odds ratio, 0.876; P = .528) and final mastectomy (odds ratio, 0.744; P = .151) compared with patients without breast MR imaging. Conclusion Preoperative MR imaging is useful for detecting additional synchronous malignancy and significantly reducing the likelihood of repeat surgery without increasing the rate of mastectomy in patients with ILC. © RSNA, 2018.

Synchronous primary lung cancers: a multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis.

BACKGROUND. For patients with two or more primary cancers a correct diagnosis is critically important because prognosis and treatment vary considerably between multiple primary cancers and metastatic disease. Two bilateral synchronous primary lung malignancies of different histological types were diagnosed and immunohistochemically confirmed in a 60-year-old woman. In biopsy specimens of the right lung pure squamous cell carcinoma was detected (stage IIIa). The tumor expressed AE1/AE3, cytokeratin 5 and 34βE12. In biopsy specimens of the left lung small cell carcinoma was detected (stage IIIa). The small cells expressed synaptophysin, chromogranin A and CD56. DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue of both tumors. Exons 5-9 of the TP53 gene were examined for genetic mutations by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing analysis. Direct sequencing of DNA isolated from the small cell carcinoma revealed a TGC to TTC mutation at codon 404 of TP53 exon 5. In DNA isolated from the squamous cell carcinoma no TP53 mutation was found. The tumors' different response to chemotherapy also suggested that they belonged to different histological types. The patient lived 24 months after the diagnosis, which is more typical for stage III than for stage IV lung carcinoma. Discrimination of synchronous primary lung cancers from intrapulmonary metastases based only on clinical findings can be very difficult. Multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluation is therefore very helpful in cases like this, because a correct diagnosis will determine the best treatment for the patient and consequently a better prognosis.

Clinical and Prognostic Analysis of Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Synchronous and Metachronous Multiple Malignancies.

To analyze the clinical features and prevalence of synchronous and metachronous second primary malignancies (SPMs) in patients with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HSCC), their associated risk factors, and cause-specific mortality. We retrospectively reviewed 136 patients treated with curative intent at our hospital. Statistical analyses were performed to determine factors predictive of SPM and cause-specific mortality. Sixty-three of 136 patients (46.3%) developed SPM; of these, 41 (30.1%) and 42 (30.9%) had synchronous and metachronous SPMs, respectively, with patient overlap. The most common site of synchronous and metachronous SPMs was the oesophagus (65.8% and 24.4%, respectively); the corresponding overall survival rates were 34.1% and 66.5%, respectively. Furthermore, heavy drinking was significantly correlated with synchronous SPM (p<0.001). Oesophageal cancer surveillance is recommended for patients with HSCC, especially heavy drinkers. Our findings may help identify and properly manage HSCC patients at high risk of SPMs.