[A case of successful surgical treatment of rectal cancer complicated by acute myelomonocytic leukemia].

A 47-year-old man, who had been diagnosed as having acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMMOL) and had been treated with combination chemotherapy, was admitted to our hospital because he had developed melena. He had been judged to be in complete remission and had shown no signs of recurrence for years, Daunorubicin, vincristine 6-Mercaptopurine and Cyclophosphamide had been administered for maintenance and intensification therapy. He was well until January 1986, when this melena began. A barium enema was given and he was diagnosed as having rectal cancer. Amputation of the rectum and a permanent abdominal colostomy was made safely, mainly because he had been in complete remission, and he recovered normally after the operation. In recent years, the survival of patients with malignancies has improved due to aggressive treatment even in cases of hematological neoplasms. However, the risk of secondary neoplasms in patients treated for cancer has increased. This case suggests that we have to be careful when prescribing treatment for cancer patients, since anti-tumor drugs may have cartinogenic effects.