Endobronchial metastases from carcinoma of the breast

We report the case histories of four patients with endobronchial metastases from breast cancer, two of whom died of resultant respiratory insufficiency. To aid in earlier diagnosis and thus permit more rapid application of specific therapy, we characterized the epidemiology and presenting symptoms of these patients and 38 additional patients with endobronchial metastases from breast carcinoma that have been reported in the literature. The average age at presentation with endobronchial metastases was 55, and the average time from diagnosis of the breast primary lesion to the endobronchial metastasis was 77 months. Cough occurred in 71% of patients; wheezing and hemoptysis occurred in 25%. Segmental atelectasis occurred in 57% on chest roentgenogram. Average survival of patients from the time of diagnosis of endobronchial metastasis was 21 months; median survival was 19 months.