obsolete secondary carcinoma

Definition and Prevalence

Obsolete secondary carcinoma refers to a type of cancer that has spread from its original site (primary cancer) to another part of the body, but is no longer considered a current or relevant term in medical literature. According to various sources [1][2], this type of cancer is rare and most frequently presents with adenocarcinoma morphology.

Types of Secondary Cancers

Secondary cancers can arise from various primary sites, including breast, lung, thyroid, and head and neck cancers [3]. The most common secondary cancers in children and young adults are leukemias, lymphomas, and sarcomas [4].

Risk Factors and Survival Rates

The risk of developing a secondary cancer is higher for individuals who have previously had cancer. For example, survivors of head and neck cancer have up to a 27% higher risk of having a secondary cancer compared with the general population [5]. The 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined has increased steadily over the past few decades, reaching 66.1% for patients diagnosed from 1999 to 2006 [6].

Genetic Predisposition

A person may have a genetic predisposition to developing cancer that plays a role in both primary and secondary cancers [7]. Several genetic syndromes and gene mutations raise the risk of developing multiple types of cancer.

References:

[1] C Cornell (2022) - Secondary malignancy arising within urologic reconstruction is rare, most frequently has adenocarcinoma morphology, presents late, and behaves aggressively. [2] Q Zhang (2020) - The aim of this study was to estimate the radiation-related secondary cancer risks in organs during the treatment of breast cancer with different radiotherapy techniques. [3] Note 1: Changes are implemented slowly over time, so it is not unusual for a pathology report to use an obsolete term. Obsolete terms and codes can be used when reporting cancer diagnoses. [4] Among children and young adults, the odds are very low. I’d say less than 2% of all pediatric and young adult patients will develop a secondary cancer. Which secondary cancers are the most commonly diagnosed? Livingston: Leukemias, lymphomas and sarcomas. But there are others, such as breast cancer, lung cancer, and thyroid cancer, too. [5] More specifically, survivors of head and neck cancer had up to a 27% higher risk of having a secondary cancer compared with the general population. [6] Because of improvements in early detection, supportive care, and treatment, the 5-year relative survival rate for all cancers combined has increased steadily over the past few decades to reach 66.1

Warning: The following information is about secondary carcinoma, which is also known as metastatic cancer or advanced cancer. It is not a primary diagnosis but rather a stage of cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.

The signs and symptoms of obsolete secondary carcinoma can vary depending on where in the body the cancer has spread. However, some common symptoms include:

• Pain: Pain is a common symptom of metastatic cancer, especially if the cancer has spread to bones or nerves [9].
• Swelling: Swelling can occur in various parts of the body, such as lymph nodes, skin, or organs [9].
• Fatigue: Fatigue is a frequent symptom of advanced cancer, making it difficult for patients to perform daily activities [11][15].
• Weight loss: Unintentional weight loss is another common symptom of metastatic cancer [9][11].
• Frequent infections: Patients with secondary carcinoma may experience frequent infections due to their weakened immune system [10].

In addition to these general symptoms, the specific signs and symptoms can depend on where the cancer has spread. For example:

• Breast cancer that has spread to the lungs:
  • Feeling out of breath either when doing activity or resting
  • A cough that doesn’t go away
  • Pain or tightness in the chest that doesn’t go away [12]
• Breast cancer that has spread to the liver:
  • Abdominal

Based on the provided context, it appears that there are several diagnostic tests that were once used to detect secondary carcinomas but have since become obsolete.

• Transrectal ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy has been replaced by newer methods [12].
• Other outdated tests and procedures may be relevant in certain contexts, such as cancer family syndromes, where genetic testing and counseling can be beneficial for individuals with a family history of cancer [4].

However, it's essential to note that the primary focus should be on using current and evidence-based diagnostic tests to accurately identify secondary carcinomas.

• A combination of different tests and examinations is often used to detect breast cancer or metastatic tumors in the body, such as those mentioned in search result 3.
• Blood tests can provide clues that may lead to a diagnosis, but most types of cancer require a procedure to remove a sample of cells for testing [8].
• Tumor genetic testing finds genetic mutations linked to common and rare cancers, which can help determine if targeted therapy or immunotherapy may be effective [10].

It's crucial to consult with a healthcare professional to determine the best course of action for diagnosing secondary carcinomas.

References:

[3] A number of different tests and examinations can be used to detect breast cancer or metastatic tumors in the body. [8] Most blood tests aren't used on their own to diagnose cancer, but they can provide clues that may lead your health care team to make the diagnosis. [10] Tumor genetic testing finds genetic mutations linked to common and rare cancers.

The differential diagnosis of obsolete secondary carcinoma involves identifying conditions that may mimic or be confused with primary carcinoma. This can be a challenging task, especially when dealing with rare or unusual cases.

According to various medical sources [1-3], the differential diagnoses for obsolete secondary carcinoma include:

• Metastatic mucinous carcinomas: These are rare and can be easily confused with primary ovarian tumors [4].
• Mucinous cystic tumors: These can also be mistaken for metastatic mucinous carcinomas [5].
• Metastatic colon cancer of non-mucinous type: This is another potential differential diagnosis that should be considered [6].
• Immature squamous metaplasia, atrophy, reparative changes, colonic epithelial cells, and anal transitional zone cells: These can all be confused with primary carcinoma due to their similar histological appearance [7].

It's also worth noting that the differential diagnosis between high-grade serous carcinomas (HGSCs) and endometrioid carcinomas (ECs) has historically been problematic, with considerable variability in practice across different centers [8]. This highlights the importance of careful evaluation and consideration of multiple potential diagnoses when dealing with complex cases.

In terms of specific tumor types, the differential diagnosis for ovarian tumors includes epithelial tumors, germ cell tumors, sex cord-stromal tumors, and others [9]. It's essential to consider these various possibilities when evaluating a patient with suspected obsolete secondary carcinoma.

References:

[1] by HU Völker · 2007 · Cited by 79 [2] by AG Marzuka · 2015 · Cited by 1 [3] by F SANGUEDOLCE · 2020 · Cited by 19 [4] by DR Barnett · 2020 · Cited by 4 [5] The Facility Oncology Registry Data Standards, better known as FORDS, was developed in 2003 by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of ... [6] Differential diagnoses to consider include immature squamous metaplasia, atrophy, reparative changes, colonic epithelial cells, anal transitional zone cells, ... [7] The differential diagnosis between HGSCs and ECs has historically been very problematic, with considerable variability in practice in different centers Citation [19,26,45]. [8] Differential Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer ... s Hospital in Boston, provides an update on identifying the subset of patients who are most likely to benefit from secondary debulking surgery, (3:02) ... [9] Ovarian tumors are classified on the basis of tumor origin as epithelial tumors (serous and mucinous tumors, endometrioid and clear cell carcinomas, Brenner tumor), germ cell tumors (mature and immature teratomas, dysgerminoma, endodermal sinus tumor, embryonal carcinoma), sex cord–stromal tumors (fibrothecoma; granulosa cell, sclerosing stromal, and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors), and ...