Cancer Reports (Feb 2024)

Radiologic patterns of distant organ metastasis in advanced breast cancer patients: Prospective review of computed tomography images

  • Bashiru Babatunde Jimah,
  • Emmanuella Amoako,
  • Emmanuel Owusu Ofori,
  • Patrick Kafui Akakpo,
  • Luke Adagrah Aniakwo,
  • Kofi Ulzen‐Appiah,
  • Emmanuel Gustav Imbeah,
  • Martin Tangnaa Morna,
  • Patience Koggoh,
  • Harry Akligoh,
  • Randy Tackie,
  • Aida Manu,
  • Lily Paemka,
  • Benjamin Dabo Sarkodie,
  • Asare Kweku Offei,
  • David Hutchful,
  • Joyce Ngoi,
  • Yaw Bediako,
  • Ganiyu Adebisi Rahman

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/cnr2.1988
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 2
pp. n/a – n/a

Abstract

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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 BC patients. Aim The aim is to document the radiological pattern and features of breast cancer metastasis in the chest, abdomen, pelvis and bones. Materials and Results Chest, abdominal, and pelvic computed tomography scan images of 36 patients with advanced BC 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 (LNs), and bones were documented. Patients' demographics, clinical data, and histopathology reports were also collected. The data were captured using UVOSYO and exported to Microsoft Excel templates. The data obtained were descriptively analyzed. Only 2.8% of BCs exhibited metaplastic BC, whereas 97.2% had invasive ductal BC. Triple‐negative cases were 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 BC patients have a higher‐than‐average radiologic incidence of lung, liver, bone, and LN metastases.

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