Incidence and pattern of bone metastases at presentation in Indian carcinoma breast patients

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common female cancer and frequently metastases to the bones. Breast cancer among Indian women occurs a decade earlier and more aggressive than the western population. Screening guidelines are based on western studies. The aim of our study is to assess the role of Technitium99m bone scan (TBS) in screening Indian EBC patients at presentation. We also looked at the pattern of BM in all stages of BC. METHODS: Patients with BC who had TBS at presentation from January 2012 to September 2015 were included in the study. RESULTS: Bone metastases were seen in 23.42% (241/1029). Of these, 10.06% (31/308) EBC, 25.60% (169/660) locally advanced BC (LABC) and 63.93% (39/61) of metastatic BC (MBC) patients had BM. Most common sites of BM were spine and pelvis. In long bone and sternum, proximal part was commonly involved. CONCLUSION: The incidence of BM in Indian BC patients at presentation is higher than western population. The incidence of BM per stage is similar to west. So TBS should be done in LABC and symptomatic EBC. There is high incidence of BM to spine and pelvis. In pelvis, SI joints and ilium and in long bones and sternum, proximal parts were commonly involved.