Challenges of patients with a rare combination of multiple primary malignancies: a single-center experience and a case series study
WCRJ 2021;
8: e2129
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_202111_2129
Topic: Cancer
Category: Original article
Abstract
Objective: When more than one primary tumor presents in the same patient, multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) are diagnosed. The incidence of MPMs has increased due to the progress in diagnosis and treatment of malignant tumors. MPMs are a clinical situation defined as the diagnosis of more than one histologically proven tumor within the same patient. The recent advances in diagnostic modalities, treatment, in addition to the cancer screening programs led to a substantial rise in the incidence of MPMs. Management of patients with MPMs is highly challenging and highlights the role of multidisciplinary tumor board management.
Patients and Methods: This report represents the clinicopathological features of 8 patients with MPMs from 2018 to 2021. We used Warren and Gate's criteria of classification of MPMs as synchronous or metachronous.
Results: A total of 2145 patients with malignant tumors presented to our Department from 2018 to 2021, while cases with histologically proven MPMs represented (0.37%) of the total cohort of patients. The mean age of the patients was 59.87 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1 (Figure 1). Solid tumors were the predominate in 6 cases (75%) as the first tumor, and as the second one in 7 patients (87.5%), while hematological tumors presented only in 2 cases (25%) as the first primary tumor and in 1 patient (12.5%) as the second tumor (Figure 2, 3). Hodgkin Disease (HD) and breast cancer represented the most common primary tumors in (50%) and (25%) cases, respectively, while breast cancer was diagnosed as a second tumor in (25%) of the patients. Metachronous MPMs constituted (75%) of cases, while 25% of cases were synchronous (Figure 4, 5).
Conclusions: The MPMs are proven not to be a rare diagnosis and is forecasted to show a steady increase in the incidence based on the progress in the diagnostic procedures. Meticulous follow up and the tackling of patients’ symptoms are imperative in the early detection and proper management.
Patients and Methods: This report represents the clinicopathological features of 8 patients with MPMs from 2018 to 2021. We used Warren and Gate's criteria of classification of MPMs as synchronous or metachronous.
Results: A total of 2145 patients with malignant tumors presented to our Department from 2018 to 2021, while cases with histologically proven MPMs represented (0.37%) of the total cohort of patients. The mean age of the patients was 59.87 years. The male to female ratio was 1:1 (Figure 1). Solid tumors were the predominate in 6 cases (75%) as the first tumor, and as the second one in 7 patients (87.5%), while hematological tumors presented only in 2 cases (25%) as the first primary tumor and in 1 patient (12.5%) as the second tumor (Figure 2, 3). Hodgkin Disease (HD) and breast cancer represented the most common primary tumors in (50%) and (25%) cases, respectively, while breast cancer was diagnosed as a second tumor in (25%) of the patients. Metachronous MPMs constituted (75%) of cases, while 25% of cases were synchronous (Figure 4, 5).
Conclusions: The MPMs are proven not to be a rare diagnosis and is forecasted to show a steady increase in the incidence based on the progress in the diagnostic procedures. Meticulous follow up and the tackling of patients’ symptoms are imperative in the early detection and proper management.
To cite this article
Challenges of patients with a rare combination of multiple primary malignancies: a single-center experience and a case series study
WCRJ 2021;
8: e2129
DOI: 10.32113/wcrj_202111_2129
Publication History
Submission date: 26 Jun 2021
Revised on: 31 Aug 2021
Accepted on: 11 Nov 2021
Published online: 26 Nov 2021
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