Multiple Primary Tumors

Abstract

Multiple primary tumors occur in clinical practice causing diagnostic dilemma. It is not very common, but the incidence has increased gradually since it was first described very many years ago. However, in spite of its increasing incidence, the presence of such primary malignancies in the breast and colon has been rare and far between, as against its presence in breast and lungs, both breasts, colon and stomach, two colonic sites, and endometrium and ovaries. It could be due to genetic disorders such as Li‑Fraumeni syndrome in which case the affected individuals develop multiple cancers in childhood or early adulthood. This is, however, very rare. It could be due to metastasis of one cancer to another site. The challenge is making a correct diagnosis and giving the appropriate management. Erroneously handling one as a metastasis of the other and instituting management as such would be inappropriate. It is necessary to make proper clinical and histopathological diagnosis and to institute proper management. We report the case of a woman who had primary cancers involving rare organ combinations of the breast and ascending colon.

Keywords: Carcinoid, colorectal cancer, metachronous, synchronous