Synchronous appearance of 2 different malignancies in one patient is a rare
phenomenon. We describe our experience of 2 patients with synchronous mali
gnancies of the testis and thyroid gland, and of a third patient who develo
ped a thyroid neoplasm unrelated to recent treatment for a germ cell tumor.
The medical records of 3 male patients treated for both a germ cell tumor
and a thyroid cancer between 1989 and 1994 were reviewed. Two patients with
nonseminomatous germ cell tumor received postoperative chemotherapy after
orchiectomy and developed a papillary carcinoma of the thyroid during treat
ment. A third patient, who received radiation therapy for a clinical stage
1 seminoma, recurred with biopsy proven seminoma in the neck in association
with a thyroid nodule 2 years later. All 3 patients had their thyroid canc
er treated by surgical resection, and one received adjuvant radioactive iod
ine. Two of the patients are currently alive and disease-free. One patient
died of pulmonary complications that stemmed from bleomycin toxicity. Synch
ronous appearance of germ cell tumor and papillary carcinoma of the thyroid
has not been previously described. Genetic predisposition may play a role
in the development of such simultaneous neoplasms. Copyright (C) 2000 by W.
B. Saunders Company.