Abstract
Introduction: Malignant pleural effusion (PE) is a common complication of advanced malignancy, especially lung and breast cancer (BC). The incidence of pleural metastasis in BC is known to be higher within the first years from diagnosis and rarer after 10-12 years.
Aim: To evaluate the incidence of ultra-late pleural metastasis in patients with breast cancer-related PE, and whether clinical aspects may be associated with this late recurrence.
Methods: A single-centre retrospective study of all patients that underwent medical thoracoscopy for suspected malignant PE from 2013 to 2019 was performed. Ultra-late metastasis were defined as recurrence appearing later than 10 years from BC diagnosis. Data regarding BC histotype (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2+ and triple negative), macroscopic pleural appearance (nodules or diffuse thickening), amount of PE (litres) and side of PE compared to primary BC were recorded.
Results: Of the 491 patients evaluated, 40 (8%) had BC pleural involvement. Four (10%) had a first diagnosis of BC after thoracoscopy. Of the other 36 patients, 19 (52%) had BC diagnosed more than 10 years before, and 7 of them even more than 20. The amount of PE, macroscopic appearance, side of PE involvement and histotype were similar between those < or >10 years from BC. There was a significantly higher time to recurrence (months) in Luminal B compared to triple negative (166±101 vs 76±74; p=0.02) and a trend in diffuse pleural involvement compared to nodules (175.6±105.6 vs 114.3±84.5; p=0.08).
Conclusions: Ultra-late pleural BC metastasis are not uncommon in our cohort of patients with breast cancer-related PE. Longer time to recurrence was found in Luminal B histotype and in diffuse pleural involvement.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3794.
This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2021