MULTIPLE PRIMARY CANCERS IN THE STOMACH AND OTHER ORGANS

The incidence of multiple primary cancers has been increasing year by year due to advances in diagnosis and treatment. Multiple primary cancers were most frequently present in the digestive system, especially in the stomach and other organs. During the 20 years from 1966 to 1985, 2106 patients with gastric cancers were admitted to our hospital and, of these, 53 patients 41 males and 12 females (2.5%) had cancer in other organs. Thirty-one patients had synchronous multiple primary cancers in the stomach and other organs and 21 had metachronous cancers. The majority of synchronous cancers were seen in the esophagus and the lung, these are known to have a poor prognosis. On the other hand, metachronous cancers were seen mainly in the colon, breast and uterus, they are known to have a good prognosis.