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== Diagnosis of primary and secondary tumors ==
The cells in a metastatic tumor resemble those in the primary tumor. Once the cancerous tissue is examined under a microscope to determine the cell type, a doctor can usually tell whether that type of cell is normally found in the part of the body from which the tissue sample was taken.


For instance, [[breast cancer]] cells look the same whether they are found in the breast or have spread to another part of the body. So, if a tissue sample taken from a tumor in the lung contains cells that look like breast cells, the doctor determines that the lung tumor is a secondary tumor. Still, the determination of the primary tumor can often be very difficult, and the pathologist may have to use several adjuvant techniques, such as [[immunohistochemistry]], FISH ([[fluorescent in situ hybridization]]), and others. Despite the use of techniques, in some cases the primary tumor remains unidentified.


Metastatic cancers may be found at the same time as the primary tumor, or months or years later. When a second tumor is found in a patient that has been treated for cancer in the past, it is more often a metastasis than another primary tumor.
[[Image:Bone metastasis.jpg|thumb|200px|center|Cut surface of a [[humerus]] sawed lengthwise, showing a large [[cancer|cancerous]] '''metastasis''' (the whitish tumor between the head and the shaft of the bone).]]
===Pulmonary metastases===
===Pulmonary metastases===



Revision as of 17:59, 14 September 2012

Metastasis
CT scan with metastatic tumour in lung (upper left lobe, seen on the right side of picture)
DiseasesDB 28954
MedlinePlus 002260

Metastasis Microchapters

Home

Patient Information

Overview

Historical Perspective

Classification

Pathophysiology

Causes

Differentiating Metastasis from other Diseases

Epidemiology and Demographics

Risk Factors

Screening

Natural History, Complications and Prognosis

Diagnosis

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Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Chest X Ray

CT

MRI

Echocardiography or Ultrasound

Other Imaging Findings

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Treatment

Medical Therapy

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Primary Prevention

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Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy

Future or Investigational Therapies

Case Studies

Case #1

Metastasis On the Web

Most recent articles

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Powerpoint slides

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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Metastasis

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Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

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NICE Guidance

FDA on Metastasis

CDC on Metastasis

Metastasis in the news

Blogs on Metastasis

Directions to Hospitals Treating Metastasis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Metastasis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Synonyms and keywords: Metastatic neoplasm; secondary tumor; disseminated cancer; metastases

Overview

Pulmonary metastases

Patient#1

Patient#2

Treatments for metastatic cancer

Whether or not a cancer is local or has spread to other locations affects treatment and survival. If the cancer spreads to other tissues and organs, it may decrease a patient's likelihood of survival. However, there are some cancers (i.e., leukemia, brain) that can kill without spreading at all.

When cancer has metastasized, it may be treated with radiosurgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy, hormone therapy, surgery or a combination of these. The choice of treatment generally depends on the type of primary cancer, the size and location of the metastasis, the patient's age and general health, and the types of treatments used previously. In patients diagnosed with CUP, it is still possible to treat the disease even when the primary tumor cannot be located.

The treatment options currently available are rarely able to cure metastatic cancer, though some tumors, such as testicular cancer, are usually still curable.

Related chapters

Resources

Medical information about metastatic cancer

Charities and advocacy groups dealing with metastatic cancer

Not specifically about metastatic cancer

References

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