Benign versus malignant hepatic lesions. A diagnostic dilemma with breast cancer patients

The diagnosis of hepatic metastases heralds a grave prognosis in breast cancer patients. The authors describe seven patients with breast cancer who were found to have hepatic defects that were suspected to present metastatic disease on initial screening and investigations. However, these patients were subsequently shown to have benign hepatic lesions after careful history-taking and supplementary diagnostic techniques, in most cases with the aid of hepatic angiographic examinations. The authors believe that thorough investigation is indicated to elucidate the nature of hepatic defects, especially in cancer patients with no other site of metastatic involvement.