Lung metastases

Alternative names

Metastatic cancer to the lung

Definition

When cancer cells from another organ spread to the lungs, they are said to have metastasized to the lung.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Metastatic tumors in the lungs are malignancies (cancers) that developed at other sites and spread via the blood stream to the lungs. Common tumors that metastasize to the lungs include breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, sarcoma, bladder cancer, neuroblastoma, and Wilm's tumor. However, almost any cancer has the capacity to spread to the lungs.

Symptoms

• Cough
  
• Bloody sputum
  
• Shortness of breath
  
• Weight loss
  
• Weakness
  
• Rib cage pain
  

Note: Sometimes, there are no symptoms.

Signs and tests

• Chest X-ray
  
• Chest CT scan
  
• Cytologic studies of pleural fluid or sputum
  
• Bronchoscopy
  
• Lung needle biopsy
  
• Surgical lung biopsy
  

Treatment

In most cases, metastatic cancer to the lung is a sign that the cancer has spread into the bloodstream. Usually cancer will be present even in places not seen by CT scans. In these circumstances, removing the visible tumors by surgery is usually not beneficial. Chemotherapy is usually the treatment of choice.

Cure is unlikely in most cases. Patients with testicular cancer or lymphoma, however, have a higher likelihood of long-term survival and cure compared with those with most other cancers.

In some circumstances in which the primary tumor has been removed and cancer has spread to only limited areas of the lung, the lung metastases can be removed surgically with the goal of long-term survival or, occasionally, cure.

Radiation therapy, the placement of stents inside the airways, or laser therapy are sometimes used but are less common than surgery or chemotherapy.

Support Groups

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.

Expectations (prognosis)