BACKGROUNDTo evaluate the incidence of multiple primary malignancies combined with lung and other organs and their relationship.

METHODSAll patients who consecutively treated for lung cancer from December 1964 to December 1992, were retrospectively analyzed regarding the recurrence of a synchronous primary tumor elsewhere in the body.

RESULTSOf total 1019 patients reviewed, 21 (2.1%) had associated carcinoma of other organs. In these 21 patients, the incidence of associated aerodigestive tract cancer was 71.4% (15/21) and that of other organs was 28.6% (6/21). Five patients had simultaneous cancer with the lung cancer and 16 had metachronous cancer.

CONCLUSIONSMultiple primary tumors in patients with carcinoma of the lungs is not a rare phenomenon. Surveillance programs for detection of second primary tumors should focus on these patients.