title: Ultrasonic patterns observed in hepatic metastases from breast carcinoma: diagnosis and evolution.
abstract: A retrospective analysis was made of 78 patients presenting breast neoplasm with hepatic metastases confirmed by ultrasound. Clinical hepatomegaly was present in 61%. The serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) was elevated in 72%, the serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) in 56%, the serum alkaline phosphatase (Aph) in 86%, and the gamma-glutamil transpeptidase (GGT) in 76%. A hypoechogenic multiple nodular pattern (HMN) was observed in 69%, a diffuse hypoechogenic pattern (DH) in 15%, and a mixed multiple nodular pattern (MMN) in 11%. No single nodular pattern was presented in any patient. The univariate analysis showed a better survival rate in patients with a mixed pattern (mean 11 months, range 1-29 months) (p = 0.027). No significant differences were observed regarding the remaining patterns, age, presence or not of hepatomegaly, or altered enzymatic values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Hospital de Sant Pau, Universidad Autonoma, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Roselló
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seltzer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Andrés
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase