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Metastasis

Kidney metastases, CT scan
Kidney metastases, CT scan 		Liver metastases, CT scan
Liver metastases, CT scan 		Lymph node metastases, CT scan
Lymph node metastases, CT scan 		Spleen metastasis - CT scan
Spleen metastasis - CT scan

Definition

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

Alternative Names

Metastatic cancer; Cancer metastases

Information

Whether or not cancer cells metastasize (spread to) to other parts of the body depends on many factors, including:

  • The type of cancer
  • The stage of the cancer
  • Original location of the cancer

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

Review Date: 10/30/2006
Reviewd By: William Matsui, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.