Cáncer sincrónico: próstata y recto, un hallazgo desafortunado. Reporte de un caso Synchronic cancer: prostate and rectum cancer, an unfortunate finding, case report

ABSTRACT Synchronous cancer is a second primary neoplasm that occurs simultaneously or within 6 months of the diagnosis of the first cancer. Rectal cancer is one of the neoplasms with the highest morbidity and mortality rates in Venezuela, with its primary metastatic sites being the liver, lung, and brain. On the other hand, prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Venezuela, with bone and lymph nodes being the primary sites of metastasis. We describe the case of a 74-year-old male with a three-month history of Gleason 7 acinar adenocarcinoma of the prostate, without prior treatment, who presented with changes in bowel habits and an 18-kilogram weight loss. Physical examination revealed a hard prostate, decreased rectal lumen, no pain, and a positive fecal occult blood test. Due to these symptoms, a computed tomography scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis was performed, revealing concentric thickening of the sigmoid and upper rectum. Subsequently, a colonoscopy was performed, which reported advanced cancer of the mid-upper rectum, Borrmann III. A rectal biopsy was indicated, diagnosing well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the mid-rectum with villous adenoma features (cT3-N0-M0), and the patient was referred to the oncology surgery service. Despite being highly prevalent cancer types, metastasis from the prostate to the rectum and/or the coexistence of both in isolation is uncommon. Therefore, the present case represents an unfortunate finding for the patient, making it of medical interest.