Double primary malignancies in patients with gynaecological cancers

The diagnosis of double primary cancers may be enhanced by greater clinical awareness and interest in such patients. A retrospective study involving the analysis of patient files and operative registers was carried out at the University Hospital Centre (UHC), Yaounde, Cameroon. Thirteen cases of double primary cancers, each involving at least one gynaecological malignancy, were managed over a nine year period at the University Hospital Centre. Nine different cancer associations were identified. There was a preponderance of cervical cancer, reflecting the high prevalence of this malignancy in our environment. Apart from the association between cervical and breast cancers that occurred in four patients, and cervical and large bowel cancers that occurred in two patients, no other preferential cancer association were observed. A patient with a gynaecological malignancy requires a thorough initial evaluation and life long follow-up in order to diagnose any possible second primary malignancy.