An Unusual Occurrence of Multiple Metachronous and Synchronous Primary Cancers in a Female Patient.

Multiple primary cancers, although uncommon, have been increasing in incidence in recent years. This trend is likely due to advances in factors such as diagnostic imaging, life expectancy, and interventional modalities with associated adverse effects. The patient presented in this case report is a 59-year-old Caucasian female with an extensive medical history who developed multiple primary cancers of the breast, mouth, gastrointestinal system, and lung in the span of four years. We attempted to elucidate the possible etiologies and risk factors that may have contributed. Given the patient's complex medical and social history, interventions, environmental, and genetic predispositions, it is impossible to pinpoint a single etiology. Rather, it is more likely that the interplay of multiple factors contributed to the findings of this case.

Pediatric homicides related to burn injury: a retrospective review at the medical university of South Carolina.

Many burn injuries are mistakenly referred to as "accidents" because they occur suddenly and seem unpredictable and uncontrollable; however, injuries often occur in predictable patterns. We reviewed all pediatric forensic cases referred to the Medical University of South Carolina Forensic Pathology Section over a 28-year period from January 1975 to December 2002. There were 124 cases with 121 fire-related fatalities and three scald fatalities. Ninety of the burn victims were in the 0-5-year age group. The manner of deaths showed 108 accidents and 12 homicides (four undetermined). Eleven of 12 burn-related homicides occurred at the home with all of the victims in the 1-8-year age group. The perpetrator of the home fire homicides was the mother in five cases and the sister in one case (two undetermined). Homicide involved a vehicle fire in one case in which the father caused an explosion with an accelerant. The three scald death perpetrators were the father, mother's boyfriend, and an aunt.This retrospective study and review of the literature may reveal patterns useful for evaluation of manner of death. By recognizing scene characteristics, potential perpetrators, and children at risk, we can better classify pediatric burn-related fatalities.