Presentation
Retired female with prior history of breast cancer. Left sided thoracic pain.
Patient Data
Age: 70 years
Gender: Female
From the case:
Breast cancer rib metastasis
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Left mastectomy.
Thickened sclerotic left 8th rib.
Lungs clear.
Heart size normal.
Case Discussion
The breast outlines are one of the review areas on a chest x-ray. If a mastectomy is present implying a previous malignancy, be sure to interrogate the film closely.
Bone metastases are common - both lucent and sclerotic - in breast cancer.
Other potential findings on a chest x-ray indicating metastatic disease in breast cancer include:
- pleural effusion
- lung metastases
- pleural metastases