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.