BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuLung metastasesMetastases to the lung; Metastatic cancer to the lung; Lung cancer - metastases; Lung metsLung metastases are cancerous tumors that start somewhere else in the body and spread to the lungs. Causes Metastatic tumors in the lungs are cancers that developed at other places in the body (or other parts of the lungs). They then spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to the lungs. It is different than lung cancer that starts in the lungs. Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersNearly any cancer can spread to the lungs. Common cancers include:Bladder cancer Bladder cancerBladder cancer is a cancer that starts in the bladder. The bladder is the body part that holds and releases urine. It is in the center of the lower...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Breast cancer Breast cancerBreast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer:Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (du...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lung cancer Colorectal cancer Colorectal cancerColorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). It is also sometimes simply called colon ca...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney cancer Melanoma Ovarian cancer Sarcoma Thyroid cancer Pancreatic cancer Testicular cancer Symptoms Symptoms may include any of the following:Bloody sputum Bloody sputumCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cough CoughCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weakness Weight loss Exams and Tests The health care provider will examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms. Tests that may be done include:Bronchoscopy to view the airways BronchoscopyBronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chest CT scan Chest CT scanA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cytologic studies of pleural fluid or sputum Cytologic studies of pleural fluidA cytology exam of pleural fluid is a laboratory test to detect cancer cells and certain other cells in the fluid from the area that surrounds the lu...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lung needle biopsy Lung needle biopsyA lung needle biopsy is a method to remove a piece of lung tissue for examination. If it is done through the wall of your chest, it is called a tran...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PET scan Surgery to take a sample of tissue from the lungs (surgical lung biopsy) Treatment Chemotherapy is often used to treat metastatic cancer to the lung. Surgery to remove the tumors may be done when any of the following occurs:The cancer has spread to only limited areas of the lung The lung tumors can be completely removed with surgery However, the main tumor must be curable, and the person must be strong enough to go through the surgery and recovery.Other treatments include:Radiation therapy Radiation therapyRadiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Immunotherapy Targeted systemic therapy The placement of stents inside the airways StentsA stent is a tiny tube placed into a hollow structure in your body. This structure can be an artery, a vein, or another structure, such as the tube ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Laser therapy Laser therapyLaser therapy uses a very narrow, focused beam of light to shrink or destroy cancer cells. It can be used to cut out tumors without damaging other t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Using local heat probes to destroy the area Using very cold temperature to destroy the area Support Groups You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.Support groupThe following organizations are good resources for information on cancer:American Cancer Society. Support and online communities. www. cancer. org/...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) A cure is unlikely in most cases of cancers that have spread to the lungs. But the outlook depends on the main cancer. In some cases, a person can live more than 5 years with metastatic cancer to the lungs. Possible Complications Complications of metastatic tumors in the lungs may include:Fluid between the lung and chest wall (pleural effusion), which can cause shortness of breath or pain when taking a deep breath Further spread of the cancer When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your provider if you have a history of cancer and you develop: Coughing up blood Persistent cough Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Unexplained weight loss Prevention Not all cancers can be prevented. However, many can be prevented by:Eating healthy foods Exercising regularly Limiting alcohol consumption Not smoking Open ReferencesReferencesArenberg DA, Reddy RM. Metastatic malignant tumors. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 79.Hayman J, Naidoo J, Ettinger DS. Lung metastases. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 57.Wald O, Izhar U, Sugarbaker DJ. Lung, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 58.AllVideoImagesTogLung cancerAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersLung cancer - Animation Cancer can affect just about any part of the body, from the colon to the pancreas. Some cancers grow quickly, while others grow more slowly and are easier to treat. But of all the different cancers out there, one of the deadliest is lung cancer. Let's talk today about lung cancer. Cancer starts when cells begin to grow uncontrollably and form tumors. In the case of lung cancer, the tumors start in the lungs. Sometimes cancer starts somewhere else in the body and then spreads to the lungs. In that case, it's called metastatic cancer to the lung. Metastatic means disease that has spread. There are two types of lung cancer. The most common, and slower-growing form is non-small cell lung cancer. The other, faster-growing form is called small cell lung cancer. The most common way to get lung cancer is to smoke cigarettes. The more cigarettes you smoke and the earlier you start smoking, the greater your risk is. Even being around someone who smokes and breathing in the secondhand smoke from their cigarettes increases your risk of getting lung cancer. Even though smoking makes you much more likely to get lung cancer, you don't have to smoke or be exposed to smoke to get the disease. Some people who have lung cancer never lit up a cigarette in their life. They have been exposed to cancer-causing substances like asbestos, diesel fumes, arsenic, radiation, or radon gas. Or, they may not have had any known lung cancer risks. The most common signs of lung cancer are a cough that won't go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, and fatigue. But just because you have these symptoms it doesn't mean that you have don't have lung cancer. These can also be signs of other conditions, like asthma or a respiratory infection. If you do have these symptoms, see your doctor. A chest x-ray, MRI, or CT scan can view the inside of your lungs to look for signs of cancer or other diseases. What happens if you do have lung cancer? Doctors divide lung cancer into stages. The higher the stage, the more the cancer has spread. For example, a stage 1 cancer is small and hasn't spread outside of the lungs. A stage 4 cancer has spread to the other organs, such as the kidneys or brain. Depending upon the type and stage of your lung cancer, you may need surgery to remove part or all of your lung. Or, your doctor may recommend radiation or chemotherapy to kill cancer cells. If you have lung cancer, how well you do depends upon the stage of your disease and the type of lung cancer that you have. Early-stage cancers have the highest survival and cure rates. Late-stage cancers are harder to treat. Because lung cancer can be so deadly, prevention is key. The most important that thing you can do is to stop smoking, and avoid being around anyone who does smoke.Bronchoscopy - illustration 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.BronchoscopyillustrationLung cancer - lateral chest x-ray - illustration A lateral view of a chest x-ray in a patient with central cancer of the lung.Lung cancer - lateral chest x-rayillustrationLung cancer - frontal chest X-ray - illustration A chest x-ray 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).Lung cancer - frontal chest X-rayillustrationPulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray - illustration 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.Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-rayillustrationPulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan - illustration This CT scan shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the right 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.Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scanillustrationLung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan - illustration 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 right lung (on the left of the screen) represent the cancer.Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scanillustrationRespiratory system - illustration Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.Respiratory systemillustrationLung cancerAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersLung cancer - Animation Cancer can affect just about any part of the body, from the colon to the pancreas. Some cancers grow quickly, while others grow more slowly and are easier to treat. But of all the different cancers out there, one of the deadliest is lung cancer. Let's talk today about lung cancer. Cancer starts when cells begin to grow uncontrollably and form tumors. In the case of lung cancer, the tumors start in the lungs. Sometimes cancer starts somewhere else in the body and then spreads to the lungs. In that case, it's called metastatic cancer to the lung. Metastatic means disease that has spread. There are two types of lung cancer. The most common, and slower-growing form is non-small cell lung cancer. The other, faster-growing form is called small cell lung cancer. The most common way to get lung cancer is to smoke cigarettes. The more cigarettes you smoke and the earlier you start smoking, the greater your risk is. Even being around someone who smokes and breathing in the secondhand smoke from their cigarettes increases your risk of getting lung cancer. Even though smoking makes you much more likely to get lung cancer, you don't have to smoke or be exposed to smoke to get the disease. Some people who have lung cancer never lit up a cigarette in their life. They have been exposed to cancer-causing substances like asbestos, diesel fumes, arsenic, radiation, or radon gas. Or, they may not have had any known lung cancer risks. The most common signs of lung cancer are a cough that won't go away, chest pain, shortness of breath, weight loss, and fatigue. But just because you have these symptoms it doesn't mean that you have don't have lung cancer. These can also be signs of other conditions, like asthma or a respiratory infection. If you do have these symptoms, see your doctor. A chest x-ray, MRI, or CT scan can view the inside of your lungs to look for signs of cancer or other diseases. What happens if you do have lung cancer? Doctors divide lung cancer into stages. The higher the stage, the more the cancer has spread. For example, a stage 1 cancer is small and hasn't spread outside of the lungs. A stage 4 cancer has spread to the other organs, such as the kidneys or brain. Depending upon the type and stage of your lung cancer, you may need surgery to remove part or all of your lung. Or, your doctor may recommend radiation or chemotherapy to kill cancer cells. If you have lung cancer, how well you do depends upon the stage of your disease and the type of lung cancer that you have. Early-stage cancers have the highest survival and cure rates. Late-stage cancers are harder to treat. Because lung cancer can be so deadly, prevention is key. The most important that thing you can do is to stop smoking, and avoid being around anyone who does smoke.Bronchoscopy - illustration 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.BronchoscopyillustrationLung cancer - lateral chest x-ray - illustration A lateral view of a chest x-ray in a patient with central cancer of the lung.Lung cancer - lateral chest x-rayillustrationLung cancer - frontal chest X-ray - illustration A chest x-ray 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).Lung cancer - frontal chest X-rayillustrationPulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray - illustration 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.Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-rayillustrationPulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan - illustration This CT scan shows a single lesion (pulmonary nodule) in the right 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.Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scanillustrationLung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan - illustration 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 right lung (on the left of the screen) represent the cancer.Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scanillustrationRespiratory system - illustration Air is breathed in through the nasal passageways, travels through the trachea and bronchi to the lungs.Respiratory systemillustrationRelated Information Cancer(Condition)Breast cancer(Condition)Colorectal cancer(Condition)Prostate cancer(Condition)Bladder cancer(Condition)Neuroblastoma(Condition)Wilms tumor(Condition)Chemotherapy(Special Topic)Radiation therapy(Special Topic)Lung cancer(Condition)Non-small cell lung cancer - InDepth(In-Depth)Breast cancer - InDepth(In-Depth)Colon and rectal cancers - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 4/29/2022 Reviewed By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed 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- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Lung metastasesMetastases to the lung; Metastatic cancer to the lung; Lung cancer - metastases; Lung metsLung metastases are cancerous tumors that start somewhere else in the body and spread to the lungs. Causes Metastatic tumors in the lungs are cancers that developed at other places in the body (or other parts of the lungs). They then spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to the lungs. It is different than lung cancer that starts in the lungs. Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersNearly any cancer can spread to the lungs. Common cancers include:Bladder cancer Bladder cancerBladder cancer is a cancer that starts in the bladder. The bladder is the body part that holds and releases urine. It is in the center of the lower...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Breast cancer Breast cancerBreast cancer is cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast. There are two main types of breast cancer:Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (du...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Lung cancer Colorectal cancer Colorectal cancerColorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). It is also sometimes simply called colon ca...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney cancer Melanoma Ovarian cancer Sarcoma Thyroid cancer Pancreatic cancer Testicular cancer Symptoms Symptoms may include any of the following:Bloody sputum Bloody sputumCoughing up blood is the spitting up of blood or bloody mucus from the lungs and throat (respiratory tract). Hemoptysis is the medical term for cough...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Chest pain Chest painChest pain is discomfort or pain that you feel anywhere along the front of your body between your neck and upper abdomen.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cough CoughCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weakness Weight loss Exams and Tests The health care provider will examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms. Tests that may be done include:Bronchoscopy to view the airways BronchoscopyBronchoscopy is a test to view the airways and diagnose lung disease. It may also be used during the treatment of some lung conditions.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chest CT scan Chest CT scanA chest CT (computed tomography) scan is an imaging method that uses x-rays to create cross-sectional pictures of the chest and upper abdomen....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Chest x-ray Chest x-rayA chest x-ray is an x-ray of the chest, lungs, heart, large arteries, ribs, and diaphragm.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Cytologic studies of pleural fluid or sputum Cytologic studies of pleural fluidA cytology exam of pleural fluid is a laboratory test to detect cancer cells and certain other cells in the fluid from the area that surrounds the lu...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Lung needle biopsy Lung needle biopsyA lung needle biopsy is a method to remove a piece of lung tissue for examination. If it is done through the wall of your chest, it is called a tran...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article PET scan Surgery to take a sample of tissue from the lungs (surgical lung biopsy) Treatment Chemotherapy is often used to treat metastatic cancer to the lung. Surgery to remove the tumors may be done when any of the following occurs:The cancer has spread to only limited areas of the lung The lung tumors can be completely removed with surgery However, the main tumor must be curable, and the person must be strong enough to go through the surgery and recovery.Other treatments include:Radiation therapy Radiation therapyRadiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Immunotherapy Targeted systemic therapy The placement of stents inside the airways StentsA stent is a tiny tube placed into a hollow structure in your body. This structure can be an artery, a vein, or another structure, such as the tube ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Laser therapy Laser therapyLaser therapy uses a very narrow, focused beam of light to shrink or destroy cancer cells. It can be used to cut out tumors without damaging other t...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Using local heat probes to destroy the area Using very cold temperature to destroy the area Support Groups You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.Support groupThe following organizations are good resources for information on cancer:American Cancer Society. Support and online communities. www. cancer. org/...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Outlook (Prognosis) A cure is unlikely in most cases of cancers that have spread to the lungs. But the outlook depends on the main cancer. In some cases, a person can live more than 5 years with metastatic cancer to the lungs. Possible Complications Complications of metastatic tumors in the lungs may include:Fluid between the lung and chest wall (pleural effusion), which can cause shortness of breath or pain when taking a deep breath Further spread of the cancer When to Contact a Medical Professional Call your provider if you have a history of cancer and you develop: Coughing up blood Persistent cough Shortness of breath Shortness of breathBreathing difficulty may involve:Difficult breathing Uncomfortable breathingFeeling like you are not getting enough airImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Unexplained weight loss Prevention Not all cancers can be prevented. However, many can be prevented by:Eating healthy foods Exercising regularly Limiting alcohol consumption Not smoking Open ReferencesReferencesArenberg DA, Reddy RM. Metastatic malignant tumors. In: Broaddus VC, Ernst JD, King TE, et al, eds. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 79.Hayman J, Naidoo J, Ettinger DS. Lung metastases. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 57.Wald O, Izhar U, Sugarbaker DJ. Lung, chest wall, pleura, and mediastinum. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 58.