[A case of effective bisphosphonate therapy for bone metastasis from breast cancer with multiorganic metastases]

A 50-year-old woman with a past history of breast cancer was referred to our department of radiology for detailed examination after abnormal shadows on chest x-ray were detected following a routine medical examination. After lung biopsy via thoracotomy, segmental resection of the lung was performed and mediastinal lymph nodes were dissected. A histopathological diagnosis of breast cancer with lung metastasis and mediastinal lymph-node metastases was made. Later, the patient complained of pain in the left lower extremity. A diagnosis of a left tibial metastasis was made according to bone scintigraphy and MRI. Radiation therapy at 50 Gy was then initiated. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy combined with bisphosphonate therapy (Bisphonal, once in 2 weeks), was also begun. During the treatment, the patient had multiple organ metastases including multiple brain metastases, and metastases to submental lymph nodes and the left adrenal gland. However, her bone metastasis was limited to the left tibial bone and no other bone lesions were detected by bone scintigraphy and MRI. She did not experience adverse effects from the bisphosphonate therapy. We consider that the inhibition of extension and further metastases of the tibial bone metastasis noted in this patient reflected the efficacy of bisphosphonate therapy, and that bisphosphonate therapy might become an essential treatment in patients with bone metastasis of breast cancer.