Lung Metastases
"Today it is possible to perform resection of pulmonary metastases in a minimally invasive manner, with hardly any complications, few days of hospitalization and with very good results when patients are properly selected in a multidisciplinary committee."
DR. MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ PÉREZ
CODIRECTOR. THORACIC SURGERY DEPARTMENT
Lung metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from a tumour developing in another location to the lungs.
The most common tumours that metastasise to the lungs are colon cancer, breast cancer, bone and soft tissue sarcomas, melanoma and genitourinary tumours. However, any type of cancer has the ability to spread to the lungs.
The Lung Cancer Area, and the interaction of the medical teams integrated in it, has contributed to generate a definitive impulse for translational research in this malignant lung pathology.
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Symptoms of lung metastasis
Patients usually manifest symptoms depending on the pulmonary occupation of these metastases. The most common symptoms are:
- Dry cough. Persistent and difficult to control, which may also worsen over time due to irritation of the bronchi by metastatic lesions.
- Bloody sputum (haemoptysis). It may occur as small streaks of blood in the sputum or in larger episodes.
- Shortness of breath (dyspnoea). Shortness of breath that intensifies with exertion and may progress with the spread of the disease in the lungs.
- Chest pain. May be diffuse or localised, aggravated by deep breathing or coughing.
Do you have any of these symptoms?
If you suspect that you have any of the above symptoms,
you should consult a medical specialist for a diagnosis.
How is pulmonary metastasis diagnosed?
Lung metastases are usually detected in imaging tests performed at the time of diagnosis or in the clinical follow-up of the primitive tumour, without any symptoms. If the risk of developing lung metastases is high, as in the case of sarcomas and melanomas, close clinical follow-up is advisable.
The diagnosis of suspected pulmonary metastases is radiological and is established by plain chest X-ray and high-definition thoracic computed tomography (CT). Chest magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are also used in the process of detection and confirmation of such lesions.
Treatment for lung metastasis
How are pulmonary metastases treated?
The treatment of patients with pulmonary metastases is defined by the treatment of the primary tumor and always requires a multidisciplinary approach.
The initial treatment will depend on the number of metastases, their location, and the condition of the primary tumor.
In tumors sensitive to chemotherapy, it is often used—either alone or in combination with surgery—depending on the response to treatment.
For tumors that do not respond to chemotherapy, the treatment of choice is surgery, which should be reserved for patients in whom all lesions can be completely removed.
The Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra has a pioneering Thoracic Surgery Department specializing in minimally invasive procedures, including both robotic and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, with enhanced recovery protocols that minimize the impact of surgery and reduce hospital stays.
Radiotherapy can also be a treatment strategy for pulmonary metastases that do not respond to chemotherapy, are not candidates for surgical resection, and have a location and number that allow the technique to be applied.
In this context, the Proton Therapy Unit offers an alternative treatment option that maximizes benefit while minimizing toxicity in lesions that are difficult to access or located near critical organs.
Where do we treat it?
IN NAVARRA AND MADRID
The Lung Cancer Area
of the Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra
The Lung Cancer Area is made up of specialists in Pneumology, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Thoracic Surgery, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Pathological Anatomy, as well as researchers from the Solid Tumors and Biomarkers Program at the Summit.
The diagnostic process integrates tumor molecular biology to achieve the most complete diagnosis possible.
Diseases we treat
Why at the Clinica?
- Integral evaluation of the patient.
- Possibility of beginning personalized treatment 48 hours after the first consultation.
- Minimally invasive surgery for the prompt recovery of our patients.
Our team of experts in lung metastasis
