Multiple primary malignant neoplasm in patients with laryngeal carcinoma

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to study the incidence , localization, and nature of second primary tumors arising in patients wit h primary laryngeal carcinoma and their correlation with the site, staging, and grade of differentiation. Methods: Between 1979 and 1996, 877 patients underwent laryngeal surgery (8 50 male and 27 female; age range = 30.5-75 years). The second primary tumor was multicentric in 7 cases (14%), systemic in 16 cases (33.3%), and "coin cidental" in 25 cases (52%), In 3 cases the tumors were simultaneous, in 7 cases they were synchronous, and in 38 cases they were metachronous. In the 48 patients with multiple primary malignant neoplasm, the index tumor was glottic in 38 cases and supraglottic in the remaining 10, but the incidence of second tumors in these two groups was virtually matching, respectively: 38/709 (5.3%) and 10/168 (5.9%). Results: This study did not identify any correlation between the second pri mary tumor and the extension of the first neoplasm (T) and the presence of laterocervical lymph node metastases (N). Our data showed a higher incidenc e of second tumor in patients having G1 carcinomas compared with the other series with G2 and G3 carcinomas. As far as survival rates are concerned, a significant reduction was observed in patients developing a second primary tumor, regardless of whether the index tumor was glottic or supraglottic. Conclusions: The incidence of new tumors in patients with laryngeal carcino ma is not linked to the site, size, staging, or grade of differentiation of the index tumor. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.