Surgical treatment of bone metastases in breast cancer

Introduction: Multidisciplinary approach is a must in breast cancer treatment. Oncologist should work closely, with orthopaedic surgeon and radhiotherapist. Methods - diagnosctics: a good clinical examination is essential. Bone metastases are suspected if there is skeletal pain and hipercalcaemia in blood. Following procedures are X rays, CT, Tc-99-scintigraphy, MRI. The diameter of thinned bone cortex by 50% by metastasis is supposed as needed for a fracture to occur. Methods - Treatment: Systemic and paliative radiotherapy are followed by surgery in case of "threatened" fracture and pathologic fracture. Surgical guidelines are followed, using wires, metal plates and intraossal nails. Results: 124 female patients are presented. 13,9% of them suffered from bone metastases, 3% of them had metastases at the time of diagnosis.