[Factors linked to the development of pleuro-pulmonary metastases in breast cancer. Preliminary study]

The risk of death after pleuro-pulmonary metastasis was studied on a sample of 55 patients treated for breast cancer between 1954 and 1978. The women treated by tamoxifen, aminoglutethimide, or radiotherapeutic castration, at the time of the appearance of their metastasis, had a significantly lower risk of death than the women treated by other methods, or who were left untreated. The characteristics of the initial tumor, the delay between the primary tumor and the metastasis, the rhythm of systematic chest X-rays, and the use of chemotherapy did not significantly decrease this risk. The management of controlled therapeutic trials is suggested to confirm these results.