Case Report - (2016) Volume 2, Issue 1
We report the rare occurrence of multiple metachronous malignancies in three patients within different time frames from 18 months, 7 years and up to 25 years, respectively. Multiple primary malignant neoplasias (MPMN) are extremely rare. The key risk factors may be smoking and family history. While numerous studies have been published on the development of secondary malignancies following a first primary, the literature contains only few reports of patients with multiple metachrounous malignancies.
Keywords: Multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMN); Small cell lung cancer (SCLC); Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); Eastern cooperative oncology group (ECOG); C-reactive protein (CRP); Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)
The first patient was a 67 year old non-smoker. He developed three different malignancies in an extremely short period of 18 months. To the best of our knowledge, this report is the first to document the occurrence of triple malignancies in such a short time frame [1].
In August 2012, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer stage pT2c N0 M0 G3 Gleason 7 and underwent radical perineal prostatevesiculectomy. Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiotherapy was not required. Only 10 months later, the patient was diagnosed with basal cell cancer on the skin of his left torso flank; he underwent complete removal of the tumor.
In January 2014, he was again referred to our center due to increasing dyspnea. He was in low clinical state with overall reduced general conditions (ECOG II). Contrast enhanced CT scan revealed a huge tumor mass in the right lower lobe with extensive bilateral pulmonary metastases and pleural carcinosis (Figures 1 and 2). Histological workup of the pleural biopsy revealed infiltration by an adenocarcinoma. Nuclear reactivity of the tumor cells for TTF-1 was well in keeping with the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Figure 3).
Figure 1: CT- scan revealed a tumor mass in the right lower lobe with extensive bilateral metastases and pleural carcinosis of the left side.
Figure 2: Contrast- enhanced tomography revealed bilateral pulmonary metastases and pleural carcinosis also on the right side.
Figure 3: Histological work-up of the pleural biopsy revealed adenocarcinoma (PAS stain, x200). TTF-1 was also positive consistent with pulmonary adenocarcinoma.
Palliative chemotherapy with carboplatin and pemetrexed was initiated. However, the patient did not tolerate the chemotherapy well. After only 2 cycles of palliative chemotherapy, the treatment was stopped. The patient showed prolonged decreased general physical conditions with cancer cachexia. He was directed to supportive care.
The second patient was a 41 year old nonsmoking woman. She suffered from five different tumors; non-small cell pulmonary adenocarcinoma of the lung with multiple osteoplastic metastases in the lumbar spine and along the right ribs, as well as four different malignancies amenable to resection: endometrial adenocarcinoma, chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, bilateral breast cancer, and leiomyosarcoma of the right thigh [2,3].
The patient had a long history of different malignancies. In 2006, she developed a lump in the right breast, for which she underwent lumpectomy with axillary clearance. Histopathology showed early infiltrating ductal carcinoma, stage pT2 N0 M0. She underwent mastectomy and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy to the breast and regional lymph nodes. In 2007, she developed another lump in the left breast, with histopathology revealing ductal carcinoma of the breast. She underwent mastectomy and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy to the remaining area of the left side. A therapy with tamoxifen for 5 more years was initiated.
In 2007, she was also diagnosed with endometrial adenocarcinoma metastasizing to the colonic mucosa (Figure 5). Radical hysterectomy was performed.
Figure 4: Contrast- enhanced tomography revealed a major pulmonary mass of left upper lobe (arrow).
Figure 5: Demonstrates colonic metastasis by endometrial cancer undermining in part intact overlying mucosa. The tumor cells expressed PAX8 and were negative for TTF1 (H&E x100).
In 2011, she was diagnosed with chromophobe renal cell carcinoma of the left kidney. Due to the small size, it could be totally removed through segmental wedge resection. No radiotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy was needed.
In 2012, a mass on the right upper thigh without osseous infiltration was noted, and histology revealed leiomyosarcoma.
In 2013, she was referred to our center due to slight exertional dyspnea with weight loss. The CT scan revealed a pulmonary mass of the left upper lobe (Figures 4 and 5). Staging examination revealed multiple osteoplastic osseous metastases of the lumbar spine and right side ribs. Transbronchial biopsy revealed pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Figure 6).
Figure 6: Shows infiltrating acinar adenocarcinoma in a transbronchial biopsy of the lung. The tumor cells were positive for TTF1 (H&E x200).
Since EGFR mutation was detected, systemic therapy with erlotinib (Tarceva) with 150 mg daily dose was initiated.
The third patient was a 73 year old smoking woman with a history of 40 pack years [4-6]. Four malignancies were diagnosed within 25 years [7,8]. Small cell carcinoma of the lung, basal cell cancer on the skin of the right cheek, papillary thyroid carcinoma of the left lobe and breast cancer of the right breast [9-13].
In 1989, the patient developed a lump in the right breast, for which she underwent lumpectomy with axillary clearance. Histopathology showed infiltrating ductal carcinoma, stage pT2 N0 M0. She underwent mastectomy and postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy to the breast and regional lymph nodes, followed by therapy with tamoxifen for 5 years. In 1990, the patient had the subjective feeling of a lump in her throat. A thyroidal mass was detected in the left thyroid lobe. Upon biopsy, the histology revealed papillary thyroid carcinoma of the left lobe pT2 N0 M0. She underwent total thyroidectomy with resection of both thyroid lobes.
In 2010, the patient was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on her right cheek; she underwent excision of with complete removal of the tumor.
In 2013, she was referred to our center due to a large pleural effusion on the right side. Due to her severe dyspnea, we performed pleural drainage on the right side. The CT scan revealed a huge mass which filled the right upper/middle lobes (Figure 7). Cytological work up revealed tumor cells of a small cell carcinoma in the pleural effusion, and pleural biopsy confirmed the diagnosis (Figure 8).
Figure 7: Contrast- enhanced tomography revealed a huge pulmonary mass within the right upper and middle lobe (arrow), Pleural carcinomatosis at the right side (Figure 7a and 7b).
Figure 8: Histological work-up of a pleural biopsy showed small cell carcinoma with characteristic crush artifacts (H&E x200).
Systemic chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposid was initiated. Due to severe tumor progression and further decreased clinical conditions, our patient was also later directed to best supportive care in hospice.
We report the rare occurrence of multiple malignancies in three patients within different time frames from 18 months, 7 years and up to 25 years, respectively.