UNLABELLED: Frequently metastases are developed in the lung. Endobronchial involvement, in these cases, ranges from 2% to 5%. Particularly in breast cancer, endobronchial metastases (EM) carriers could be identified in approximately 36% of the cases. PURPOSE: Relate of a case showing the importance of the EM detection. The differential diagnosis is very important because EM can simulate asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and lung cancer. CASE REPORT: 38 year-old caucasian woman, carrier of a breast cancer, who was referred to "Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho" Cancer Institute with non-productive cough and rest dyspnea. On X-Ray she had bilateral lung infiltrates, which was due to disseminated breast neoplasm. Bronchoscopy showed little elevated and isolated lesions, dispersed along all bronchial tree. The histological examination showed a carcinoma of the bronchial mucosa suggesting breast cancer origin. CONCLUSIONS: The authors emphasize the importance of the bronchoscopic examination in the diagnosis of EM. These lesions can be detected by this way in 50% of the cases. Bronchoscopy has high specificity and it is a safe diagnostic method that in this way presents rare complications.
UNLABELLED: Frequently metastases are developed in the lung. Endobronchial involvement, in these cases, ranges from 2% to 5%. Particularly in breast cancer, endobronchial metastases (EM) carriers could be identified in approximately 36% of the cases. PURPOSE: Relate of a case showing the importance of the EM detection. The differential diagnosis is very important because EM can simulate asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and lung cancer. CASE REPORT: 38 year-old caucasian woman, carrier of a breast cancer, who was referred to "Arnaldo Vieira de Carvalho" Cancer Institute with non-productive cough and rest dyspnea. On X-Ray she had bilateral lung infiltrates, which was due to disseminated breast neoplasm. Bronchoscopy showed little elevated and isolated lesions, dispersed along all bronchial tree. The histological examination showed a carcinoma of the bronchial mucosa suggesting breast cancer origin. CONCLUSIONS: The authors emphasize the importance of the bronchoscopic examination in the diagnosis of EM. These lesions can be detected by this way in 50% of the cases. Bronchoscopy has high specificity and it is a safe diagnostic method that in this way presents rare complications.