The significance of pulmonary nodule in breast cancer patients

Bratisl Lek Listy. 2010;111(5):280-3.

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary nodule in patients with breast cancer is a difficult problem and constitutes a therapeutic challenge. This study questioned the significance of solitary pulmonary nodule in breast cancer patients and compared the survival with patients who had normal thorax tomography.

Methods: There were 58 breast cancer patients included in the study. From these, 28 patients had normal preoperative tomography (group 1), and 30 patients had pulmonary nodule less than 1 cm on thorax tomography (group 2). Chi-square and Fisher tests were used for comparisons and Kaplan-Meier test for survival.

Results: Stage, tumour size, treatment, histology, lymph node involvement, adjuvant therapy, were similar in both groups. We did not find a significant difference in disease-free and overall survival rates, between two groups.

Conclusions: For the nodules that show benign properties at tomography, there is no need to do further investigation and no need to change treatment plan in breast cancer patients (Tab. 2, Fig. 2, Ref. 12). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / complications*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / secondary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Middle Aged
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / complications*
  • Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / diagnosis*