What is metastasis

Metastases - a distant secondary foci of a pathogenic process resulting from the movement causes his material (tumor cells, bacteria) from the primary tumor disease. There are metastases from metastatic abscess formation in the transfer of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria and tumor metastasis of tumor cells when migrating to the development of tumor metastasis.

In most cases, the term "metastasis" is used in relation to tumor processes as metastasis is one of the symptoms of tumor progression, characterizing its step, operability (possibility of the operation), and prognosis.

What determines the speed of the spread of metastases

The time required for the onset of metastasis, may be different: sometimes metastases occur very rapidly after the occurrence of the primary tumor site, in some cases, metastases can occur in 1-2 years. And there are the so-called latent or dormant metastases, which are found in many years after surgery removal of the tumor. Different types of treatment (radiotherapy, chemotherapy) contribute to reducing the incidence of metastasis, or the later appearance of metastases.

Reducing the frequency of metastasis can be achieved by artificial inhibition of thrombus formation processes, which creates conditions that prevent the formation of tumor embolus (blood clot detached part) of the circulating tumor cells. Removal of the tumor or a biopsy (removal of tissue tumor research) does not increase the incidence of metastases.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of metastasis in many cases is difficult. Sometimes a remote, especially solitary metastases, for example in the brain or bone are detected before the primary tumor and is often mistaken for an independent tumor. Correct diagnosis can be made on the basis of a thorough examination of the patient and monitoring them.

Of great importance in identifying metastases are X-ray and radioisotope research methods, helps to clarify the magnitude, prevalence and nature of growth of metastases, their decay, abscess, sprouting in adjacent organs and tissues. These methods allow you to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.

Treatment and prevention

Treatment is based on the general principles of the treatment of tumors. Applied radiation therapy, chemotherapy Chemotherapy - it always falls the hair? At single metastases in some cases possibly surgery. Sometimes some solitary metastasis of neoplasms may disappear spontaneously, regardless of treatment.

In order to prevent or slow down the formation of metastases, tumor removal before the operation and after it necessarily radiation therapy. Furthermore, after a course of treatment for a malignant tumor Malignant tumor: cells are mad   at a certain time the survey is conducted for the detection of metastases. It is known, for example, colon cancer Colon cancer: creeps imperceptibly   metastases formed from 34 to 210 days, in Kaposi Sarcoma - a full recovery possible   bone - from 19 to 72 days. These periods are taken into account in the planning of individual examination of the patient, which can detect metastases in the early stages.

Early detection of metastases can significantly prolong the life of patients.

Galina Romanenko

How are benign tumors

The tumor - is excessive and uncoordinated, with the body tissue growth. They can be benign or malignant. A benign tumor composed of cells is not very different from the other cells of the tissue from which it was formed. However, tumor cells possess qualities such as the tendency to uncontrolled division and growth, loss of some features of the structure and function, changes in chemical composition. A benign tumor has the ability to push surrounding tissue, which is why they are squeezed and undergo atrophic changes (decrease in volume). Benign tumor has clear boundaries, unlike malignant tumor invades surrounding tissue and prevents metastasis Metastasis - danger everywhere   in lymph nodes and distant organs.

Causes of benign tumors are not fully understood. Today it is considered that under the influence of various factors in the human genetic damage occurs, which causes a disturbance of cell division and control of their natural death (apoptosis). The factors that can cause the appearance of a benign tumor, are:

• various chemicals used in the home and at work (tobacco smoke, smoke from incense sticks, gasoline);
• physical factors, such as prolonged exposure to high temperatures, intense solar radiation, high radiation Radiation and its biological effect: gently infected! , Tissue injury;
• Environmental effects on the microflora, mostly viruses causing chronic diseases (human papillomavirus, herpes simplex, human immunodeficiency);
• severe violations of the body's defenses (immune system), caused by different reasons;
• hormonal background.

Benign tumors are of different types - it depends on the tissue in which they develop. So, from the epidermis (the cover fabric) can be formed papilloma of mucosal epithelium - genital warts, of epithelial cancer - adenoma of adipose tissue - lipoma of muscle tissue - fibroids of the connective tissue - fibroma Fibroid tumors (fibroids) - when necessary intervention of a doctor? From bone - osteoma.

Lipoma

Lipoma - a benign tumor that develops from fat tissue. There it is more common in women in the second half of life, and is located in the subcutaneous tissue in the tissue surrounding the internal organs, intramuscular, perirenal, retroperitoneal fat, in adipose tissue of the breast, digestive and respiratory mediastinum, cardiac muscle, brain membranes, in the course of nerves.

Lipomas often occur in several places, often mirroring each other in both sides. If a lipoma grows to a large size, it can hang down, reaching the base of a thin stalk. This leads to congestion, edema, necrosis (tissue death), and ulceration. Retroperitoneal lipomas can grow large and eventually move into a malignant tumor - liposarcoma.

Surface lipoma can be felt as a well-delimited soft consistency unit consisting of lobules. Usually a lipoma is surrounded by a connective tissue capsule, but there are diffuse (spread) lipoma with diffuse growths adipose tissue without the capsule. Consistency: it is usually mild, but sprawl in the connective tissue, it becomes more dense (fibrolipoma). When sprouting in lipomas large number of blood vessels it is called angiolipoma, muscle tissue - miolipomoy.

A special form of a lipoma is developing in the knee joint on the background of a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases. It grows slowly, but over time the growing and represents a multiple branched lipomatous education. This lipoma may be a long time unnoticed, but under the influence of trauma (and sometimes without any external cause) assumes the character of a malignant tumor Malignant tumor: cells are mad   (liposarcoma) with spread to nearby tissues.

Identify lipoma, which can be felt on the surface of the body, it is not difficult. It is much harder to identify deep-lipomas that develop no symptoms and are often accidental discovery during any other survey. Depending on the location lipomas can be identified using ultrasonic or X-ray diagnostics, magnetic resonance imaging.

Treatment of lipomas only operative: the tumor is removed, followed by histological examination of tissue required to identify atypical (typical for a malignant tumor) cells.

With all the "purity" of any benign tumors are best removed.

Galina Romanenko