Screening for intraocular metastases in patients with breast carcinoma
Emil Anthony T. Say, MD, Gary John V. Mercado, MD
Objective
This study determined the prevalence of intraocular metastases among patients with stages II, III, and IV breast carcinoma at the University of the Philippines–Philippine General Hospital (UP–PGH).
Methods
This is a prospective cross-sectional study involving patients with histopathologically proven breast carcinoma and stages II, III, or IV classification by tumornode- metastases (TNM) staging. Excluded were patients with hematologic malignancies involving the breast and those with periocular metastases or primary carcinomas with direct extension to the globe. Patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination. All presumed cases of intraocular metastases were confirmed by an ocular oncologist. Prevalence rate was reported using standard epidemiologic parameters and all possible risk factors were analyzed using chi-square testing with a 95% confidence interval.
Results
This is a prospective cross-sectional study involving patients with histopathologically proven breast carcinoma and stages II, III, or IV classification by tumornode- metastases (TNM) staging. Excluded were patients with hematologic malignancies involving the breast and those with periocular metastases or primary carcinomas with direct extension to the globe. Patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination. All presumed cases of intraocular metastases were confirmed by an ocular oncologist. Prevalence rate was reported using standard epidemiologic parameters and all possible risk factors were analyzed using chi-square testing with a 95% confidence interval.
Conclusions
The prevalence of intraocular metastases among patients with stages II to IV breast carcinoma at the UP–PGH was 1.97%. It was significantly higher in stage IV breast carcinoma (9.3%). Possible risk factors were the presence of ocular complaints and stage IV breast carcinoma.