Metastasis in gastric cancer

Metastases are particles of a malignant tumor in other organs and tissues. The process of tumor cell spread is called metastasis. It occurs most often through the lymph flow, less often through the venous blood flow, and even less often through arterial embolism. Stomach cancer most often spreads through the lymphatic and hematogenous routes. Moreover, the distinctive feature of the first method is metastasis in nearby lymph nodes. With the second type of metastasis, secondary tumors are formed through the venous blood flow in distant organs and tissues. How does the process of metastasis occur? Metastases in stomach cancer are formed when a small section of the tumor (or even several cells) is torn off and enters the lymph flow. In the lymphatic vessels, the process of tumor cell proliferation occurs, followed by inhibition in the lymph nodes of a particular organ, where the formation of the metastasis itself occurs. Metastases, when they reach a certain size, can be called a secondary tumor. A secondary tumor consists of the same cells as the primary (original) tumor.

Metastases form in 80-90% of patients with gastric cancer at late stages of the disease. When secondary tumors appear, resection of the primary tumor will no longer affect the patient's life, so the question of performing surgery often disappears.

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Gastric cancer and liver metastases

In stomach cancer, the most common site of metastasis is the liver. There are no special clinical manifestations at the initial stage. With prolonged development, weight loss, dull aching pain in the right hypochondrium, fever, and fatigue may be observed. Later, liver function is impaired and, as a result, it increases in size and develops minor jaundice. Diagnosis of liver metastases in stomach cancer is usually made by examining the abdominal cavity using an ultrasound machine. Treatment of liver metastases in stomach cancer consists of stopping the increase in their number and size by radiation and chemotherapy. If metastasis in the liver is extensive, then, unfortunately, no therapy will help prolong the patient's life. The outcome of liver metastases is quite deplorable. If secondary tumors are detected in the liver, the patient is given a period of one week to a month.

Gastric cancer and metastases to the lungs

Metastases to the lungs are the second most common in stomach cancer. The main symptoms of secondary tumors in the lungs are shortness of breath, cough, and hemoptysis. At the last stage, pain occurs when inhaling and bleeding from the lungs. Diagnosis of metastases in the lungs is carried out by X-ray imaging. Darkened areas will be visible on the film at the site of formation of secondary tumors. Treatment of metastases to the lungs in stomach cancer is aimed at maximizing the viability of the organ using chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The outcome of generalized metastases in the lungs, as in the liver, is disappointing. Patients live from a week to a month.

Gastric cancer and metastases to the spine

Metastases to the spine in stomach cancer are quite rare. These secondary tumors usually do not make themselves known for a very long time. If resection of the primary stomach tumor with regional lymph nodes was performed and after that radiation or chemotherapy was not performed, then there is a possibility that tumor particles could have entered the spine. Clinical manifestations of metastases to the spine look like neurological pain (radiculitis), which, as the tumor grows, can lead to complete paresis of the limbs due to compression of the spinal nerve roots. The difficulty of diagnosis is that metastases grow into bone tissue. This also presents a huge problem when trying to remove the metastasis. The prognosis for metastases to the spine is quite comforting, since with early detection, a cure is possible with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Diagnosis of metastases in gastric cancer

Diagnosis of metastases in gastric cancer depends on their localization. For diagnosis, the following are used:

• ultrasound examination (to determine the presence of secondary tumors in the abdominal cavity, liver);
• magnetic resonance imaging (to detect secondary tumors in immobile organs such as the liver and bone tissue);
• X-rays (to determine the presence of secondary tumors in the lungs and liver);
• puncture (to determine the presence of secondary tumors in organ cavities and skin).

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Treatment of metastases in gastric cancer

In case of extensive metastasis, treatment is aimed at maximally preserving the viability of a particular organ. It is impossible to remove all metastases, so surgical treatment is considered inappropriate. It is also impossible to completely stop the growth of secondary tumors, so the use of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is primarily aimed at prolonging the patient's life. The prognosis for metastases of stomach cancer is usually disappointing. The mortality rate is more than 98%.