Macromorphometric Analysis of Metastatic Lesions in Bones due to Breast Cancer: Contribution to Human Identification

This study aimed to report the metastatic lesions observed in identified skeletons whose deaths were caused by breast cancer complications to provide information and evidence that can be used in cases of human identification forensics.

The research was conducted at the Centre for Forensic Anthropology Studies of the Faculty of Odontology of the University of Pernambuco (CEAF/FOP/UPE), Recife, Brazil. The data bank of the CEAF/FOP/UPE was searched for skeletons with the cause of death reported as due to breast cancer, resulting in five cases. The skeletons were arranged in anatomical positions and macroscopically inspected to register, describe and measure the lesions present to establish the macroscopic patterns of bone destruction caused by breast cancer.

Of the five skeletons, two presented metastatic lesions. In the first, lesions were observed in a disseminated form, affecting almost all bones. The lesions were predominantly osteolytic and ellipsoid-shaped; however, mixed and circular lesions were also found. The second skeleton presented four lesions of mixed characteristics. The finding of bone lesions in the macroscopic analysis of skeletons may reveal a more advanced stage of the neoplasm, as well as its dissemination in areas little rich in hematopoietic tissue, such as the diaphyses of long bones, a situation widely observed in the first reported case.

Besides providing more excellent knowledge of their macroscopic presentation, bone metastatic lesions may act as an individualizing factor in human identification cases, narrowing the sample of possible victims.