Characterizations of uveal melanoma patients with three additional primary malignancies

PurposeIn a population-based cohort of 960 uveal melanoma (UM) patients, we describe patients with three additional malignancies, including one unique patient with four synchronous primary malignancies.MethodA descriptive presentation of the clinical course and outcome for UM patients with three additional primary malignancies.ResultsAfter more than 20 years of follow-up of the UM cohort, 11 patients (1.1%) were diagnosed with three additional primary malignancies before, simultaneously or after UM. Among these, one patient had four synchronous primary malignancies, detected during workup for a symptomatic UM. All diagnoses were treated during the following 4 months, firstly the breast cancer, thereafter, the lung and pancreatic cancers and finally the UM. The patient died 3 years later of abdominal carcinomatosis due to the pancreatic cancer. The family history and gene testing did not disclose any genetic predisposition for cancer. A comparison of the four synchronous tumours, morphologically and immunohistochemically, showed no similarities and the expression of antibodies was different.ConclusionPatients with UM may be diagnosed with non-ocular additional primary cancers. Thus, a comprehensive workup is obligatory and a further follow-up of the UM patients seems necessary. The UM is not always the main problem.