All oligometastatic breast cancer is Stage IV, but not all Stage IV breast cancer is oligometastatic. Oligometastatic disease is defined as cancer that has spread to a strictly limited number of distant sites, typically one to five lesions on imaging. This distinction matters clinically: in widespread Stage IV disease, treatment aims at control. In oligometastatic disease, aggressive local treatment alongside systemic therapy can eradicate all visible disease and, in selected patients, produce a functional cure.
Written by Dr Swaroop Revannasiddaiah, MBBS (Bangalore Medical College, RGUHS), MD Radiotherapy and Clinical Oncology (Regional Cancer Centre, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh University), DM Medical Oncology (RGUHS, 2021), MRCP Medical Oncology (Royal College of Physicians, UK, 2017), ESMO Certified (2016), Thoracic Oncology Certification (University of Michigan, USA, 2017), Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist, NiSH Clinic, 48, 7th B Main Road, near Vinayaka Temple, 4th Block, Jayanagar, Bengaluru 560011. Phone: +91 9731174360.
