Asbestos exposure and multiple primary tumors.

Recently we observed 5 patients with multiple primary tumors who also had a history of occupational asbestos exposure. Two patients had a lung carcinoma and a colon carcinoma and 3 others had 2 distinct pulmonary carcinomas. Most of the attending physicians were unaware of the patient's occupational risk for asbestos exposure and the resultant health hazards. Therefore, we review the uses of asbestos and occupations at risk for asbestos exposure.