Analysis of clinical and imaging characteristics of pseudocirrhosis in breast cancer liver metastasis.

Background: Pseudocirrhosis that may be triggered by the treatment of breast cancer liver metastasis often begins insidiously and progresses rapidly. This complicates the accurate assessment of tumor growth or regression. Without timely intervention, patients are at significant risk of death due to acute liver failure or bleeding from ruptured varices.

Objective: This study aims to explore the clinical and radiological characteristics of pseudocirrhosis, providing a theoretical basis for clinicians to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, thereby reducing the misdiagnosis rate and mortality associated with this condition.

Methods: This study conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data and CT and MRI images from 32 patients (the pseudocirrhosis group) with pathologically confirmed breast cancer liver metastasis and radiological features of pseudocirrhosis, and 28 patients (the control group) with breast cancer liver metastasis without pseudocirrhosis, at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from November 2012 to January 2024. All patients were female, with an average age of 58.3 ± 8.3 years in the pseudocirrhosis group and 56.5 ± 7.8 years in the control group. In the pseudocirrhosis group, 27 patients underwent CT scans and 23 underwent routine MRI examinations. In the control group, 24 patients underwent CT scans and 20 underwent routine MRI examinations. Image analysis included the number of lesions, morphology, enhancement patterns, degree of liver capsule retraction, presence of portal hypertension, gastric varices, ascites, and abnormal nodules, as well as an analysis of patients' chemotherapy regimens, prothrombin time (PT), albumin, and cholinesterase levels.

Results: In our study, liver metastases in both the pseudocirrhosis group and the control group were multiple and round-shaped, with enhanced lesions exhibiting moderate to marked ring or nodular enhancement. Among the 32 cases in the pseudocirrhosis group, one patient presented with multiple liver metastases and the development of pseudocirrhosis at initial diagnosis, while the remaining 31 patients developed pseudocirrhosis following chemotherapy or combined therapy. No abnormal nodules, were observed in either group aside from the metastatic tumors. In the pseudocirrhosis group, portal vein thickening was observed in 2 cases (6.3 %), ascites in 18 cases (56.3 %), splenomegaly in 11 cases (34.4 %), and gastric varices in 3 cases (9.4 %). The liver capsule retraction was classified as diffuse in 14 cases (43.7 %), extensive in 10 cases (31.3 %), and limited in 8 cases (25.0 %). Among the 24 patients with available laboratory data, the prothrombin time (PT) was normal in 21 cases (65.6 %) and prolonged in 3 cases (9.4 %), albumin levels were normal in 14 cases (58.3 %) and decreased in 10 cases (41.3 %), and cholinesterase levels were normal in 23 cases (95.8 %) with a decrease in 1 case (4.2 %). The control group showed no signs of portal hypertension or its decompensated manifestations; among the 26 patients with available data, albumin levels were normal in 18 cases (69.2 %) and decreased in 8 cases (30.8 %); PT was normal in 24 cases (92.3 %) and prolonged in 2 cases (7.7 %); cholinesterase levels were normal in 27 cases (96.4 %) with a decrease in 1 case (3.6 %).

Conclusion: Chemotherapy or combined therapy may be a triggering factor for the development of pseudocirrhosis in patients with breast cancer liver metastasis. In the early stages of pseudocirrhosis, liver synthetic function does not appear to be significantly affected.