[Metachronous double carcinoma of the large intestine]

Seven patients developed two separate carcinomas of the colon over an average interval between the two of 8.5 years. Five of the second tumours were discovered during routine endoscopic follow-up of the first. Ten of the 14 tumours were located in the left colon. These seven cases represent an incidence of metachronous double carcinoma of the colon of 0.9% among a total of 762 patients with carcinoma of the colon seen during the same period. Two patients died of the malignancy seven and 24 months, respectively, after the operation. The others have so far remained clinically free of tumour.