Endocrine organ metastases in subjects with lobular carcinoma of the breast.
OBJECTIVE
To define the frequency and pattern of endocrine organ metastases in patients dying of invasive lobular carcinoma.


METHODS
Postmortem microscopic evaluation of the ovaries and adrenal, pituitary, thyroid, and parathyroid glands for breast cancer metastases.


METHODS
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, between 1971 and 1990.


METHODS
One hundred eighteen subjects who died of their cancer: 86 had infiltrating ductal carcinoma; 32, invasive lobular carcinoma.


METHODS
Quantitative measurements to allow frequency determinations and statistical comparisons.


RESULTS
Endocrine organ metastases were found in 91% of the subjects with invasive lobular carcinoma vs 58% of subjects with infiltrating ductal carcinoma. The adrenal gland was most frequently involved. Multiple endocrine metastases were most common in the group with invasive lobular carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
A relationship exists between invasive lobular carcinoma and endocrine metastases. This indicates that antemortem endocrine evaluation may subsequently improve quality-of-life treatment.
Bumpers
H L
HL
Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo.
Hassett
J M
JM
Penetrante
R B
RB
Hoover
E L
EL
Holyoke
E D
ED
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000556:secondary*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000556:secondary*; D004701:Endocrine Gland Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D012042:Registries
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone