Lima Memorial Health System Logo
Approximate ER WAIT TIME WAIT TIME MACRO
Lima Memorial eHealth
Careers
Ways to Give

Health Library

Metastasis
     
Print-Friendly
Bookmarks

Metastasis

Metastatic cancer; Cancer metastases

 

Metastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the blood or the lymph system.

If a cancer spreads, it is said to have "metastasized."

Information

 

Whether or not cancer cells spread to other parts of the body depends on many things, including:

  • The type of cancer
  • The stage of the cancer
  • Original location of the cancer
  • Your body's natural defenses, such as the immune system

Treatment depends on the type of cancer and where it has spread.

 

 

Open References

References

Doroshow JH. Approach to the patient with cancer. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 164.

Krasnick BA, Goedegebuure SP, Fields R. Tumor biology and tumor markers. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 28.

Rankin EB, Giaccia AJ. Cellular microenvironment and metastases. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 3.

BACK TO TOPText only

 
  • Kidney metastases - CT scan

    Kidney metastases - CT scan

    illustration

  • Liver metastases, CT scan

    Liver metastases, CT scan

    illustration

  • Lymph node metastases, CT scan

    Lymph node metastases, CT scan

    illustration

  • Spleen metastasis - CT scan

    Spleen metastasis - CT scan

    illustration

    • Kidney metastases - CT scan

      Kidney metastases - CT scan

      illustration

    • Liver metastases, CT scan

      Liver metastases, CT scan

      illustration

    • Lymph node metastases, CT scan

      Lymph node metastases, CT scan

      illustration

    • Spleen metastasis - CT scan

      Spleen metastasis - CT scan

      illustration

    Tests for Metastasis

     
       

      Review Date: 10/27/2024

      Reviewed By: Laura J. Martin, MD, MPH, ABIM Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Atlanta, GA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

      The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
      © 1997- adam.comAll rights reserved.