Cannonball metastases - breast cancer

Case contributed by Magdi Mahsoub
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

The patient presented to the emergency department with chest tightness. No history of illness.

Patient Data

Age: 45 years
Gender: Female
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Multiple variable-sized pulmonary opacities seen bilaterally scattered throughout both lung fields suggesting cannonball metastases.

Asymmetrical dense enlargement of the right breast.

This study is a stack
Axial
non-contrast
This study is a stack
Axial C+
arterial phase
This study is a stack
Axial C+ portal
venous phase
This study is a stack
Axial C+
delayed
This study is a stack
Axial bone
window
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Both lung fields are studded with multiple enhancing soft tissue masses, variable in size and configuration.

Bilateral enlarged axillary lymph nodes, larger and massive on the right side.

Right breast shows a large enhancing soft tissue mass in the upper outer quadrant measuring about 6 x 4 cm, a smaller enhancing focal lesion in the lower outer quadrant, a 4 x 3 cm cystic lesion in the upper inner quadrant, andskin thickening.

Multiple variable-sized hepatic focal lesions suggesting hepatic metastases.

Small bony lesions (right 6th rib, left iliac bone suggesting bony metastases.

No available sagittal or coronal planes.

mammography
RMLO
RCC
LCC
LMLO
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Right breast (suboptimal study):

Left breast: no suspicious mass or microcalcification

Opinion: highly suspicious right breast upper outer quadrant lesion, recommended for true cut biopsy (BIRADS 4C)

Ultrasound guided biopsy

ultrasound
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Ultrasound-guided true-cut biopsy from right breast mass lesion:

  • under strict aseptic conditions with ultrasound guidance using lignocaine as local anesthetic, 4 cores were taken from the right breast upper outer quadrant mass lesion using 16 Gauge automatic biopsy needle

  • the specimen was put in special containers and sent to the lab for histopathological analysis

  • no immediate complications encountered

Conclusion: technically successful right breast mass biopsy as described

pathology
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The pathology of the biopsied right breast mass revealed invasive ductal carcinoma, SBR grade II.

Case Discussion

Cannonball metastasis refers to multiple, well-defined, large round metastases scattered throughout both lungs resembling cannonballs. This pattern is most commonly associated with hematogenous spread of malignancy. Breast cancer is an uncommon cause of cannonball metastasis of the lungs.

This case shows multiple bilateral cannon-ball lung metastases from invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Case courtesy of Dr. Ahmed Tantawi, King Faisal Medical Complex, Taif, KSA.

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