To the Editor.—
In their article describing neoplasm recurrences in new areas of inflammation after long tumor-free intervals, Der-Hagopian and associates (240:374, 1978) suggest oncotaxic substances may attract dormant tumor cells to these inflammatory sites.Recently, we were confronted with a case where tumor "recurred" in the site of a previous inflammatory process that preceded the discovery of the neoplasms by four years.
Report of a Case.—
The patient, at age 34 years, underwent cholecystectomy because of cholecystitis associated with multiple gallstones. At age 38 years, recurrent postprandial vomiting, abdominal distension, and pain developed. At surgery she was found to have a primary adenocarcinoma of the proximal jejunum and a serous cystadenocarcinoma of the left ovary. There was no overt evidence of metastasis. A panhysterectomy, bilateral salpingooophorectomy, and small-bowel resection were performed through a left paramedian incision. She remained asymptomatic until age 44 years, when she began to note dull,