ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical features and proper treatment of 38 elderly patients with early double primary cancers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-eight elderly patients with early double primary cancers treated from January 1980 to March 2003 were retrospectively reviewed for involved organs, treatment and prognosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Digestive tract was the most frequently involved, followed by urogenital system and lung. Long-term results of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), operation and radiotherapy were superior to other methods. The prognosis of gastrointestinal carcinoma was better than that of prostate carcinoma and hematopoietic system. The operation rate decreased with increasing age. The 5-year survival rates of EMR, operation and radiotherapy were 85.7%, 71.1% and 75.0%, respectively. The medium survival time was 120 months in first cancer and 39 months in the second primary cancer. The 5-year survival rates of the first cancer and second primary cancer were 88.6% and 53.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Yearly follow-up for elderly patients with endoscopy, beta ultrasonic scan and X-ray contribute to finding of early double primary cancers. Operation is the best treatment of early double primary cancers. Endoscopic mucosal resection is especially suitable for old patients with digestive tract and bladder cancer.</p>