A CASE OF SYNCHRONOUS TRIPLE CANCER

Abstract

A case of synchronous triple cancer which involved the tongue, breast and esophagus was experienced. A 58-year-old woman underwent right partial resection of the tongue with a diagnosis of tongue cancer. This was in stage I showing the histological feature of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The second neoplasm, a right breast cancer, was diagnosed about two months after the first operation. A modified radical mastectomy was done (stage II), and the solid tubular carcinoma was histologically revealed. Around 4 months after the second operation for breast cancer, poor appetite and a gradual body weight loss occurred, and then 3 months later, an esophageal cancer was detected. Biopsy specimen revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma in an advanced stage. It was inoperable. Systemic chemotherapy failed to cure and the patient died 6 months later. In this paper clinical course as well as flow cytometric DNA analysis of this synchronous triple cancer which was performed by using these paraffin-embedded tissues is described. Triple carcinomas seen in the literature are also discussed.