Lung metastases are the spread of malignant tumor cells in the lungs to other tissues and organs over time, either locally or through the circulation.
What is Lung Metastasis?
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells within the body over time by leaving the malignant main tumor and entering the body's bloodstream or lymphatic system. Since blood and lymph circulation is distributed all over the body, tumor cells formed in any part of the body may disperse and form new tumors. This is called distant metastasis. Most cells have a certain lifespan. As cells die, new ones are formed. However, cancerous cells continue to multiply without dying, and these cell aggregates form tumors. As tumors grow, they need more space and begin to spread to other areas.
Malignant tumor cell tends to spread to almost every part of the body. But some types of cancer are more likely to spread to certain parts of the body. Lung cancer, one of these cancer types, can spread through metastasis, especially to the brain, bones, liver and adrenal glands. This is now stage 4 lung cancer. In stage 4 lung cancer, the cancer starts to spread from the affected areas to other regions. These are called secondary tumors. For example, a lung cancer that has spread to the brain is known as lung metastasis, not brain cancer. Metastatic lung cancer cells are just like the original lung cancer cells. Therefore, a pathologist can diagnose the condition by examining the cancerous cell under a microscope. There are several methods for diagnosing metastatic lung cancer. These methods can be listed as follows:
- Blood tests: If your doctor suspects a lung metastasis, he may first order a blood test. Lung metastases may cause abnormalities in blood values. However, every anomaly may not mean that there is metastasis. Therefore, your doctor may order more extensive tests to understand the situation more clearly.
- Bone scans: A bone scan uses a radioactive material to examine the inside of the bones.
- Magnetic re sonance scans (MR): Another way to diagnose metastatic lung cancer is with magnetic resonance scans. This method can enable the location and size of the tumor to be seen using a magnetic field.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scans: The PET scan first begins with the injection of a radioactive substance into the patient. Later, the radioactive substance can settle in the environment where the cancerous cells are located and help to show the presence and location of the cancer.
- Computed tomography (CT): Doctors can use computed tomography to see the location and extent of lung cancer or metastatic lung cancer. This scanning method takes pictures of the area using x-rays from different angles. It then combines these photos into a 3D image for further examination. It can be used to find out whether lung cancer has spread to the brain, liver, lymph nodes, or adrenal glands.
Symptoms of Lung Metastasis
Lung metastases may not always show symptoms. If there is a symptom, it depends specifically on the affected area of the body. The initial symptoms of lung cancer metastasis generally begin and progress in the chest. These symptoms can be listed as follows.:
- Dortness of breath
- Chronic cough
- Chest pain
- Headache
- Weakness in one limb
- Dizziness and balance problems
- Pain in the bones of the back and hips
- Swollen lymph nodes felt in the neck
- Fatigue and malaise
- Unexplained weight loss
- Signs of spread to the adrenal glands: If cancerous cells have spread to the adrenal glands, this may not usually show any symptoms. However, as the tumor grows, this can cause pain in the back and abdomen. If the cancer spreads to both adrenal glands, it causes symptoms such as loss of appetite, weakness, high fever, nausea, and is known as adrenal insufficiency. ddison's disease (inability to produce enough hormones in the adrenal glands) may occur.
- Signs of spread to the bones: Individuals with advanced lung cancer are highly likely to have bone metastases. It may spread particularly in the pelvis, upper arm bones and spine. Lung cancer bone metastasis can manifest itself with severe pain and bone fractures that occur without trauma.
- Signs of spread to the brain: Lung cancer can metastasize to the brain. The main symptoms of lung cancer brain metastasis can manifest as fatigue, nausea, tingling, seizures, vomiting, and confusion. Brain metastases can also cause mood swings and paralysis.
- Signs of spread to lymph nodes: One of the main signs that lung cancer has developed lymph metastases is enlarged and enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits and neck. However, these lymph nodes can also swell due to other health problems. Lymph node metastases around the internal organs are detected by imaging methods.
- Signs of spread to the liver: Cancerous cells in the lung can spread to the liver through the bloodstream. This condition can manifest itself as weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice, skin itching and belly swelling. When the lung metastasizes to the liver, the liver may become larger and firmer than normal in size, which can be felt externally. If the liver is significantly enlarged, this may mean that metastasis has progressed.
Organs with Lung Metastasis
Lung cancer can spread to many tissues and organs by metastasizing in advanced stages. However, a metastatic tumor that develops in another part of the body is still considered lung cancer because it spreads from the tumor cells in the lung. The common sites of lung metastasis can be listed as follows:
- Adrenal glands
- Bones
- Brain
- Other lung
- Lymph nodes
- Liver
- Pleura (the membrane around the lung)
The rate of spread of lung metastases may vary from patient to patient. However, lung cancer generally develops rapidly. and it is a spreading type of cancer. Treatment methods can be shaped according to the degree and location of lung metastasis and the general health status of the patient. These treatments can be listed as follows:
- Chemotherapy: It can be used as a primary treatment method to destroy cancerous cells. It aims to treat lung metastases through medication.
- Radiation therapy: By sending high-energy x-rays to the damaged area, it is aimed to kill tumor cells or stop their growth.
- Medicines: Non-chemotherapeutic to alleviate the symptoms of the person. drugs can be used. These drugs may be prescribed by a doctor, especially to relieve pain and control epileptic seizures.
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