MALIGNANT BREAST NEOPLASM WITH POSSIBLE PLEURAL METASTASIS

A CASE REPORT

Abstract

Introduction: In patients diagnosed with breast cancer, distant metastases occur mainly in the brain, lungs, liver and bones. With regard to cases of pulmonary metastasis, neoplastic pleural effusions are common and are associated with a worse prognosis2,3, and for diagnosis the analysis of pleural fluid is used, in addition to biopsy results of the parietal pleura. Early diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusion are essential to promote a better quality of life for patients with advanced cancer. Case report: female patient, 52 years old, diagnosed with malignant breast cancer diagnosed in 2004. Undergoing surgical and chemotherapy treatment of the tumor. Evolved with recurrent pleural effusion secondary to probable pleural metastasis, which interfered with the patient’s quality of life. Relief and diagnostic thoracentesis was performed at first with evidence of good pulmonary expandability at control chest x-rays after the procedure. Therefore, we opted to perform videothoracoscopic pleuroscopy, pleurodesis with sterile talc, pleural biopsy and thoracoscopy with closed pleural drainage in a water seal. The patient evolved well in the postoperative period and showed excellent results after the procedure. Discussion: Pleural effusion due to metastatic malignancy causes significant impairment of respiratory function, compromising the quality of life of patients, due to strenuous symptoms such as dyspnea, chest pain, anorexia and weight loss. Although a cure is not possible, palliative treatment performed successfully, as in the case presented above, allows months to years of productive life, avoiding the need for hospitalization and recurrent thoracentesis.