Second malignancies in cervical cancer patients in the west of Scotland

A retrospective study was carried out to determine the incidence and nature of second primary malignancies in patients treated for cervical cancer in the West of Scotland. A total of 3911 patients treated for a primary cancer of cervix, diagnosed between 1975 and 1992, were identified from the West of Scotland Cancer Registry. The ratio of observed second primary cancers in the study cohort to the number expected to occur if incidence was the same as in the West of Scotland population as a whole was calculated. Of the 3911 women treated, 129 (3.3%) were diagnosed with a second primary malignancy. Tissues within the pelvic radiation field showed no significant excess of second primary tumours. A significant excess (O/E 2.52 [95% c.i. 1.89-3.30]) of second primary malignancy in the lung and pleura was identified even after correction for socio-economic deprivation. Women treated for cervical cancer in the West of Scotland appear to be at more risk of a subsequent cancer due to causes other than the late effects of radiotherapy.