INCIDENCE OF BREAST NEOPLASM ASSOCIATED WITH PULMONARY THROMBOEMBOLISM: A RETROSPECTIVE SINGLE CENTER STUDY

Authors

  • Ancuta Gabriela PANFIL Clinical Pneumology Hospital, Iasi, Romania
  • Andra Mara URSU Sf. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
  • C. GHIMUS Clinical Pneumology Hospital, Iasi, Romania
  • Lucia INDREI “Sf. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi, Romania
  • A. G. NAUM ‟Grigore Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași
  • Liliaana GHEORGHE ‟Grigore Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22551/ktcm8652

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the incidence of pulmonary embolism among breast cancer patients, emphasizing its correlation with the histological types, cancer staging, and thrombus characteristics Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 211 patients diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) using contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography at “Sf. Spiridon” County Clinical Emergency Hospital, Iasi, from the 1st of January 2023 to 31st of November 2024. Patients with previous diagnosis of breast cancer were identified, and data including demographic details, breast cancer stage, histopathological findings, and thrombus localization were collected. Results: The incidence of breast cancer associated with PTE, found in our cohort was 4.73% (n=10), with a majority of postmenopausal women (80%), a median age of 55 ± 6.96 years and an interquartile range (IQR) of 9.25 years. Incidence by cancer stage was as follows: stage I -0.47 % (n=1), stage II - 0.94% (n=2), stage III - 0.94% (n=2), stage IV - 2.36% (n=5). The incidence was higher among patients with stage IV cancer (2.47%) compared to stage I-III (0.5-1%). Histologically, 9 patients (4.26%) were diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), while only 1 patient (0.47%) had invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Studying thrombus localization we found saddle thrombus in one case (0.47 %), lobar artery thrombi in 2 cases (0.94 %) and 7 patients (3.31 %) with segmental and subsegmental arteries thrombosis. None of the patients had PTE preceding breast cancer diagnosis, all PTE occurred after treatment, with acute PTE being found in 2 cases - 0.94%, while the other 8 (3.79%) were diagnosed as chronic thrombosis Conclusions: Pulmonary thromboembolism was observed in 4.73% of breast cancer patients, with a majority of postmenopausal women, a higher prevalence in patients with advanced-stage disease, all PTE occurring after treatment, most of them being chronic thrombosis. The study’s limitations include a small study group and study duration.

Author Biographies

  • A. G. NAUM, ‟Grigore Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Morpho-functional Sciences (II)

  • Liliaana GHEORGHE, ‟Grigore Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iași

    Faculty of Medicine
    Department of Surgery (II)

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Additional Files

Published

2025-04-07

Issue

Vol. 129 No. 1 (2025): The Medical-Surgical Journal

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INTERNAL MEDICINE - PEDIATRICS

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