Quadruple malignancy in a single patient: a case report and comprehensive review of literature

The occurrence of multiple primary malignant neoplasias (MPMN) is a rare but increasingly frequently reported event. Many theories have been proposed to explain MPMNs, but none have been proven. The key risk factors appear to be smoking and family history. While numerous studies have been published on the development of second malignancies following a first primary, the literature contains only few case reports and reviews of patients with three or more malignancies. We report a case of a young female who, over a period of 30 years, developed four different malignancies and was treated radically on each occasion.