title: Metastatic breast carcinoma to bone disguised by osteopoikilosis.
abstract: A case of metastatic lobular carcinoma of the breast in conjunction with osteopoikilosis is described. Widespread diffuse sclerotic bone lesions were identified on radiographs in a patient with breast carcinoma. In addition computed tomography demonstrated discrete spherical areas of increased density throughout the skeleton manifest typically by osteopoikilosis. No systemic symptoms were evident, blood parameters were normal and the lesions did not demonstrate any increased uptake of technetium on bone scan. An iliac crest bone biopsy, however, revealed metastatic disease in addition to osteopoikilosis. Conventional radiological investigations may not delineate metastasis on a background of bone dysplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, A342, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Affiliate of Weil Cornell Medical School, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. jgk1@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Donahue
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huvos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010023:Osteopoikilosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography