Detection of metastatic disease from carcinoma of the breast: limited value of full lung tomography.

Until now no large prospective study has been made to evaluate the efficacy of full lung tomography in detection of pulmonary metastases from carcinoma of the breast in the presence of a negative chest radiograph. In the current study, 144 patients with proven breast carcinoma and a negative chest radiograph underwent full lung tomography. Nodules were demonstrated in three patients and, in two of them, presumably reflected metastatic disease. Both patients had advanced extrapulmonary metastatic disease at the time of full lung tomography and in neither case did a change in therapy result. One presumed false-positive observation was also made. Because of the low propensity for carcinoma of the breast to metastasize to the lungs, full chest tomography does not appear warranted as a screening procedure in these patients.