2ND PRIMITIVE MALIGNANT-TUMOR IN PATIENTS WITH GYNECOLOGICAL CANCER

Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterise the occurrenc e of multiple primitive gynaecological malignant neoplasias, restricte d to the genital tract and breast or associated with other organs, and to detect which types of association are most frequent concerning loc ation, histology and staging. Population and methods: The records of p atients with gynaecological cancer at the Portuguese Institute of Onco logy - Lisbon Centre, between 1986 and 1993 were used in this study. R esults: Of the 10,746 women with gynaecological cancer, 91 (0,8%) were found to have a second primitive malignant neoplasia. Of these neopla sias, 64% (58 cases) were also located at a gynaecological site. The m ost frequent associations were endometrium/breast (13 cases), bilatera l breast (12 cases) and ovary/endometrium (11 cases). The majority of primitive multiple gynaecological rumours were synchronous. Regarding gynaecological cancer and non-gynaecological cancer, in 28 cases (31%) , the most common non-gynaecological location was the colon/rectum. Fi ve patients had triple tumours. Conclusion: Although these situations are relatively rare the possibility of multiple primitive cancers shou ld be considered with the presence of malignant tumours in two or more organs. This distinction between multiple primitive or metastatic can cers could be important for treatment as well as prognosis.