Endobronchial metastasis from uterine cervix cancer defines a bronchoscopically visible nonpulmonary neoplasm metastatic to the bronchus and histologically identical to cervix cancer. Endobronchial metastasis of uterine cervix cancer is rare, therefore, it is difficult to diagnose without pulmonary symptoms or abnormal radiological findings. Moreover, endobronchial metastasis of a nonpulmonary neoplasm is difficult to differentiate from a primary pulmonary neoplasm. The incidence of endobronchial metastasis is increasing because of the regular use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy and the longer survival of cancer patients. This study describes our experience of two patients with pulmonary symptoms and abnormal radiologic findings during the follow up of uterine cervix cancer, who were diagnosed as having endobronchial metastasis from uterine cervix cancer, and includes a brief review of related articles.
Adult ; Bronchial Neoplasms/radiotherapy/*secondary ; Bronchoscopy ; Case Report ; Cervix Neoplasms/*pathology ; Female ; Human ; Middle Age ; Palliative Care

OBJECTIVEEndobronchial metastases (EBM) secondary to extrapulmonary solid malignant tumors are rare but may occur. The most common extrathoracic malignancies associated with EBM are colorectal, renal and breast cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological aspects of EBM from breast cancer and the prognosis of the patients.

METHODSClinicopathological data of 11 cases diagnosed as EBM from breast cancer treated in our hospital from 2003 to 2010 were re-evaluated. Their symptoms, recurrence interval, radiological features, histopathological properties, and prognosis were assessed.

RESULTSEleven cases were diagnosed by bronchoscopic bronchial biopsy. The median interval from diagnosis of breast cancer was 57 months (range: 11 - 189 mo). All patients had other proven metastases when the EBM was diagnosed. The most frequently observed symptoms were cough (8 cases). Interestingly, two patients were asymptomatic. Hilar mass (5 cases) was a common radiological finding. No disaccordance between the hormone receptor status in the primary and metastatic lesions in these patients was found. The median survival after EBM diagnosis was 21 months (range: 6 - 36) with four patients still alive and one of these four patients was surviving more than 7 years.

CONCLUSIONSOn average, EBM is diagnosed about 5 years after the diagnosis of breast cancer, which is a relatively long lead time, but the median survival time is short, as 21 months in our group. The treatment plan must be individualized, because in some cases, long-term survival can be expected.

Adult ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Bronchial Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; secondary ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; secondary ; surgery ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Mastectomy, Modified Radical ; Middle Aged ; Nitriles ; therapeutic use ; Radiotherapy, Adjuvant ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Triazoles ; therapeutic use