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Metastatic cancer to the lung Causes and Risks:
Metastatic tumors in the lungs are malignancies (cancers) which developed at other sites and spread via the blood stream to the lungs. Common tumors which metastasize to the lungs include breast cancer , non-Hodgkin's lymphoma , osteosarcoma , neuroblastoma , and Wilms tumor .
Cancer cells may be transported by the blood and lymph systems to other organs in the body. Almost any cancer can spread to the lungs, and metastases are found in 20 to 40% of patients dying of various cancers. The incidence of metastatic cancer to the lung is 6 out of 100,000 people.
Prevention:
Early detection and treatment of primary cancers may prevent metastatic lung cancer in some individuals.
Symptoms:
Signs and Tests:
Treatment:
Treatment of the primary cancer and surgical removal of the metastatic lung tumor (if all the tumor can be removed, and if the primary tumor is under good control) is the goal of treatment. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy may precede or follow surgical treatment.
The stress of illness can often be helped by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. For this condition, see cancer - support group and lung disease - support group .
Prognosis:
The 5-year survival rate (number of people who live for at least 5 years after diagnosis) for secondary lung cancer treated surgically is 25 to 30%.
Complications:
Call Your Healthcare Provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you experience cough with bloody sputum or other symptoms of this disorder.
Bronchoscopy is a surgical technique for viewing the interior of the airways. Using sophisticated flexible fiber optic instruments, surgeons are able to explore the trachea, main stem bronchi, and some of the small bronchi. In children, this procedure may be used to remove foreign objects that have been inhaled. In adults, the procedure is most often used to take samples of (biopsy) suspicious lesions and for culturing specific areas in the lung.
A lateral view of a CXR in a patient with central cancer of the lung.
A CXR in a patient with central cancer of the right lung. Notice the white mass in the middle portion of the right lung (seen on the left side of the picture).
This chest X-ray shows coal workers pneumoconiosis - stage II. There are diffuse, small (2 to 4 mm) light areas on both sides of the lungs. Diseases which may explain these X-ray findings include simple coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) - stage II, simple silicosis, disseminated tuberculosis, metastatic lung cancer, and other diffuse infiltrative pulmonary diseases.
This chest X-ray shows coal workers pneumoconiosis - stage II. There are diffuse, small (2 to 4 mm each), light areas throughout both lungs. In the right upper lung (seen on the left side of the picture), there is a light area (measuring approximately 2 cm by 4 cm) with poorly defined borders, representing coalescence (merging together) of previously distinct light areas. Diseases which may explain these X-ray findings include simple coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP) - stage II, silico-tuberculosis, disseminated tuberculosis, metastatic lung cancer, and other diffuse infiltrative pulmonary diseases.
This picture shows complicated coal workers pneumoconiosis. There are diffuse, small, light areas (3 to 5 mm) in all areas on both sides of the lungs. There are large light areas which run together with poorly defined borders in the upper areas on both sides of the lungs. Diseases which may explain these X-ray findings include complicated coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP), silico-tuberculosis, disseminated tuberculosis, metastatic lung cancer, and other diffuse infiltrative pulmonary diseases.
This picture shows complicated coal workers pneumoconiosis. There are diffuse, massive light areas that run together in the upper and middle parts of both lungs. These are superimposed on a background of small and poorly distinguishable light areas that are diffuse and located in both lungs. Diseases which may explain these X-ray findings include, but are not limited to: complicated coal workers pneumoconiosis (CWP), silico-tuberculosis, and metastatic lung cancer.
This X-ray shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the upper right lung (seen as a light area on the left side of the picture). The nodule has distinct borders (well-defined) and is uniform in density. Tuberculosis (TB) and other diseases can cause this type of lesion.
This CT scan shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the left lung. This nodule is seen as the light circle in the upper portion of the dark area on the left side of the picture. A normal lung would look completely black in a CT scan.
Sarcoid causes damage to the lung tissue that heals by scarring. The film shows a diffuse milky and granular appearance in the normally dark lung areas. This individual has marked decrease in lung function.
This CT scan shows a cross section of the lungs of a person with lung cancer. The two dark areas in the middle of the screen are the lungs. The light areas in the left lung represent the cancer.
This is a picture of a lung removed from a lung cancer patient.
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