[Tobacco smoking and multiple primary cancers].

Seventy six patients (55 males and 21 females) aged from 39 to 89 (mean 63.7 +/- 9.7) years with multiple primary cancers were described. Larynx cancer was the most commonly seen multiple primary cancer component (35.5%) followed by lung cancer (12.5%). Combination of larynx cancer and lung cancer was the most often observed connection (21.1%). In seventeen patients two cancers were diagnosed concurrently. In other cases the interval between two cancers varied from 1 to 24 (mean 6.9 +/- 6.1) years. Smoking rate was 80.3% at diagnosis of the second cancer and only 10 patients (13.1%) quit smoking when first cancer was recognized. The results of the research indicate the necessity of conducting wide prophylactic actions.