Multiple primary malignancies (MPM) are rare. In particular, synchronous gallbladder and gastric malignancies are extremely rare, are associated with a concealed onset and atypical symptoms, and are highly likely to be overlooked or misdiagnosed. The clinical data of two patients with synchronous gallbladder and gastric malignancies are herein reported and integrated with the relevant literature to retrospectively analyze and summarize the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of MPM. Case 1 was a male 46‑year‑old patient who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and succumbed to extensive tumor metastasis 2 months after the operation. Case 2 was an 80‑year‑old female patient who was treated with distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer, cholecystectomy, gastrojejunostomy and dissection of 5 suprapyloric, 6 subpyloric, 7 left gastric and 8 common hepatic artery lymph nodes, and succumbed to multiple organ failure induced by extensive tumor invasion within 1 week after the operation. Clinical physicians must pay closer attention to early symptoms of MPM in order to make an accurate diagnosis, perform timely radical surgical treatment and achieve favorable therapeutic outcomes, in terms of significantly increasing long‑term patient survival rates.

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