Radiologic patterns of distant organ metastasis in advanced breast
cancer patients: prospective review of CT images.
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer (BC) metastases to the abdomen and pelvis
affect the liver, mesentery, retroperitoneum, peritoneum, bladder,
kidney, ovary, and uterus. The study documented the radiological pattern
and features of the chest, bone, abdominal and pelvic (AP) metastases
among advanced breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Chest,
abdominal and pelvic Computed Tomography (CT) scan images of 36 patients
with ABC were collated from Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and RAAJ
Diagnostics. The images were prospectively assessed for metastasis to
the organs of the chest, AP soft tissues and bones. Radiologic features
of metastasis of the lungs, liver, lymph nodes (LN), and bones were
documented. Patients’ demographics, clinical data and histopathology
reports were also collected. The data was captured using Uvosyo and
exported to Microsoft Excel templates. The data obtained were
descriptively analyzed. Results: Only 2.8% of BCs exhibited metaplastic
BC, while 97.2% had invasive ductal BC. Triple-negative cases was
55.6%. Of 36 patients, 31 (86.1%), 21 (58.3%) and 14(38.8%) were
diagnosed of chest, AP and bone tissues metastasis, respectively. LN
involvement was reported in 26 (72.2%) patients. Majority, 21 (58.3%)
were diagnosed of multiple sites metastasis with 15 (41.7%) showing
single site. Lungs (77.4%, 24/31), and liver (47.6%, 10/21) were the
most affected distant organs. Most bone metastases were lytic lesions
(92.9%, 13/14) with the vertebrae (85.7%, 12/14) been the most
affected. Conclusion: According to the study, advanced breast cancer
patients have a higher-than-average radiologic incidence of lung, liver,
bone, and lymph node metastases.