The role and difficulties of the use of routine screening abdomen ultrasound for the detection of a liver metastasis in postoperative breast cancer patients

To evaluate the role and difficulties of the use of routine abdomen ultrasound (US) in postoperative breast cancer patients. We reviewed the clinical records of 2460 patients who received breast cancer surgeries and underwent routine follow-up abdomen US for more than five years. We evaluated the number and clinical conditions of patients with a liver metastasis. We also evaluated the cut-off point of the breast cancer stage where a metastasis was likely to occur using the chi-squared test and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. A metastasis developed in 238 patients (9.7%), and the liver was the third most common organ site. However, just 24 (0.98%) patients presented only with a liver metastasis. Among these 24 patients, a metastasis was detected in 17 patients with the use of routine abdomen US. The cut-off point for a metastasis was Stage 3A. The use of routine screening abdomen ultrasound for the detection of a liver metastasis in postoperative breast cancer patients is not recommended. However, US can be used selectively in patients with clinical symptom or that present with a high stage equal or greater than Stage 3A