Metastatic breast cancer presenting as air-space consolidation on chest computed tomography

Intern Med. 2009;48(9):727-31. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.48.1849. Epub 2009 May 1.

Abstract

A 56-year-old woman suffered from hepatic and bone metastases of breast cancer. Two months after starting combination chemotherapy with trastuzumab and docetaxel, air-space consolidation was observed in the right lower lung lobe on a chest computed tomography (CT) and a high serum KL-6 level was detected. Drug-induced pneumonitis with organizing pneumonia type was suspected, however, a transbronchial lung biopsy and cytological examination of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid provided evidence of metastatic breast cancer. While the lung is a frequently affected site from metastasis of breast cancer, we report a rare case presenting as air-space consolidation on a chest CT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Air
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Middle Aged
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*