Breast cancer orbital metastases: Clinical, histopathological features and disease related survival in a retrospective case series

Purpose

To analyze the clinical, radiological and histopathological features, and long-term follow-up of patients with orbital metastases originating from a primary breast carcinoma. Main outcomes were: demographic characteristics of the population, clinical ophthalmological presentation, histological features, orbital metastasis latency, disease related survival, mortality rate.

Design

A retrospective observational case-series.

Methods

The medical records of 10 female patients affected by orbital metastases originating from a primary breast carcinoma referring at our tertiary referral center from 01/2016 to 12/2023, were reviewed.

Results

The median age was 63 (71.50 - 57.25) years (time of orbital biopsy). The prevalent histotype of orbital metastases of breast cancer was lobular 9.00 (90 %). The median orbital metastasis latency time in months was 9 months (IQR: 11 - 5) (in one case the orbital metastases were the first manifestation of an unknown primary tumor). The median Disease Related Survival (DRS) during the observation period was 17.50 months and the 24 months survival rate 57.14 %. The overall Mortality Rate in our population was 60 %.

Conclusions

The most frequent histotype of breast cancer orbital metastasis is the lobular one. The primary tumor precedes the onset of orbital metastasis in the majority of cases and tends to present with the classic symptoms of a mass occupying and infiltrating space. Orbital metastases are a sign that the disease is at an advanced stage, the mortality rate is high and DRS low.