Tuberc Respir Dis.  2013 Jan;74(1):32-36.

Ground-Glass Opacity in Lung Metastasis from Breast Cancer: A Case Report

• Kim SB
• Lee S
• Koh MJ
• Lee IS
• Moon CS
• Jung SM
• Kang YA

Abstract

A 43-year-old woman with breast cancer who was on neoadjuvant chemotherapy presented with cough, sputum and mild fever. High-resolution computed tomography showed diffuse ground glass opacities in bilateral lungs and subpleural patchy consolidations. Initially, she was thought to have pneumonia or interstitial lung diseases such as drug-induced pneumonitis and treated with antibiotics and steroids. She subsequently got breast cancer surgery because of disease progression, and concurrent thoracoscopic lung biopsy revealed metastatic carcinoma of the lung from breast cancer. The diagnosis of suspected interstitial lung disease can be made without lung biopsy, but malignancy should always be considered and lung biopsy should be performed in the absence of a definitive clinical diagnosis.

Keyword

Neoplasm Metastasis; Lung Diseases, Interstitial; Diagnostic Imaging

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Biopsy
Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Cough
Diagnostic Imaging
Disease Progression
Female
Fever
Glass
Humans
Lung
Lung Diseases, Interstitial
Neoplasm Metastasis
Pneumonia
Sputum
Steroids
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Steroids

Figure

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  Figure 1 Chest X-ray showing a suspicious consolidation in the right upper lung field and diffuse bilateral haziness.

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  Figure 2 Chest computed tomography showing patchy consolidations and ground glass opacity (GGO) in the subpleural area of both upper lobes and diffuse GGO bilaterally in the lower lobes.

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  Figure 3 Surgical lung biopsy specimen showing metastatic carcinoma predominantly in the lymphovascular spaces (H&E stain, ×100).

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