[Multiple carcinomas of large bowel]

Thirty-eight patients with multiple carcinomas of large bowel were encountered during 32 years period in our hospital. The incidence of synchronous carcinomas (SC) was 1.5% (22/1430) and metachronous carcinomas (MC) 1.1% (16/1430). Thirty-one patients were found to have two primary carcinomas and seven patients have three primary malignancies. Among the 38 patients, six also had cancers in ether organs. The authors discussed the diagnosis, tumor distribution, the cancer association with familial colonic polyposis, and hereditary colon cancer. The 5 years survival rate with SC treated by surgery was 35.7% (5/14), and was 93% (15/16) with MC. It is the authors' opinion that surgical resection should always be attempted in patients with SC and MC.