Breast Cancer With Renal and Adrenal Metastases: CT and MRI Imaging Features, Renal Vein Thrombosis, Differential Diagnosis, and Treatment
Author: Dr. Elias Lee Abstract Renal and adrenal masses discovered during breast cancer staging present a diagnostic challenge because metastatic disease may resemble primary renal malignancy or benign adrenal lesions. Although the kidneys and adrenal glands are recognized sites of secondary malignancy, renal metastases from breast cancer are uncommon in routine clinical practice and may remain clinically silent until cross-sectional imaging is performed. This case describes a woman in her 60s undergoing MRI for breast cancer staging. Imaging demonstrates a lobulated right adrenal mass, a large right renal hilar mass displacing adjacent vessels, a separate small posterior cortical mass in the right lower renal pole, and a small renal vein thrombus. The lesions show heterogeneous enhancement and suspicious diffusion characteristics. No suspicious hepatic metastasis is identified in the described examination. The principal diagnostic considerations include metastatic breast cancer,...
