Imaging of metastatic breast cancer: Distribution and radiological assessment at presentation

This prospective study was performed to document the distribution of sites of disease in breast cancer patients with newly diagnosed metastatic diseas e, and to identify those with assessable or measurable disease by Internati onal Union Against Cancer (UICC) criteria. Data were collected on a consecu tive series of LOO patients presenting with metastatic breast cancer. Imagi ng findings recorded included whether patients had assessable or measurable disease acid which potentially assessable sites were rendered unassessable by radiotherapy. Radiologically diagnosable complications were recorded. Skeletal metastases comprised the majority, with 67 patients having skeleta l involvement, although of these only 33 (49%) had assessable disease and 2 4 (36%) measurable disease. Sixteen (24%) patients had radiographically occ ult metastases. Liver ultrasound examination showed metastatic disease in 3 2 patients, of whom 28 (88%) had measurable lesions and 12% diffuse disease . Chest radiographs demonstrated metastatic disease in 42 patients, with as sessable disease in 39 (93%) and measurable disease in 18 (43%), In total, 80 patients had radiologically assessable disease, with five rend ered unassessable by the administration of radiotherapy to the only assessa ble site. Therefore, of the 100 patients. 75% (95% confidence interval (CI) 65-83) had radiologically assessable disease, with 55% (95% 45-65 CI) havi ng measurable lesions by UICC criteria.