RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the roles of rebiopsy for clinically diagnosed metastatic lesion in detecting the changes of hormonal receptors and second malignancy. METHODS: The metastatic lesions were rebiopsied by core needle aspiration or incision in 42 patients with a clinical diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer by computed tomography or ultrasound. RESULTS: None of major complications occurred. Thirty-one metastases were proved pathologically. The discrepancies between primary breast cancer and metastatic lesions of estrogen receptor(ER), progesterone receptor(PR), HER-2 statuses were 22.6%, 25.8% and 9.7% respectively. And 7 second malignancies were found (16.7%, 5 primary lung and 2 primary pancreas cancers). Four patients showed no relapse through rebiopsy. CONCLUSION: The rebiopsy of clinically diagnosed metastatic breast cancer may find the discrepancies of ER, PR, HER-2 statuses and second malignancy so as to change the therapeutic strategies of patients.