Causes

Metastatic tumors in the lungs are cancers that developed at other places in the body (or other parts of the lungs) and spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to the lungs. Common tumors that spread to the lungs include:

• Bladder cancer
• Breast cancer
• Colon cancer
• Kidney cancer
• Neuroblastoma
• Prostate cancer
• Sarcoma
• Wilm's tumor

However, almost any cancer has the ability to spread to the lungs.

Symptoms

• Bloody sputum
• Chest pain
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Weight loss

Note: In most cases, there are no lung-related symptoms when the tumors are found.

Exams and Tests

• Bronchoscopy
• Chest CT scan
• Chest x-ray
• Cytologic studies of pleural fluid or sputum
• Lung needle biopsy
• Surgical lung biopsy

Treatment

In most cases, metastatic cancer to the lung is a sign that the cancer has spread into the bloodstream. Usually cancer will be present even in places not seen by CT scans. In these circumstances, removing the visible tumors with surgery is usually not beneficial, although it may still be considered. Chemotherapy is usually the treatment of choice.

Sometimes when the primary tumor has been removed and the cancer has spread to only limited areas of the lung, the lung tumors can be removed with surgery. However, the main tumor must be curable, the lung tumors must be able to be completely cut out, and the patient must be strong enough to go through the surgery and recovery.

Other, less common treatments include:

• Radiation therapy
• The placement of stents inside the airways
• Laser therapy

There are other experimental treatments. One of these treatments uses local heat probes to destroy the area. Another places chemotherapy medicines directly into the artery that supplies blood to the part of the lung containing the tumor.

Support Groups

You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems. For this condition, see cancer support group.

Outlook (Prognosis)

A cure is unlikely in most cases. It is rare for someone to live more than 5 years with metastatic cancer to the lungs. However, the outlook depends on the specific type of primary cancer.

Rarely, surgery may cure patients with certain types of cancer (sarcoma, kidney cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer, or melanoma) that has spread just a little bit to the lungs.

Some types of metastatic lung cancer (particularly lymphoma or testicular cancer) can be cured with chemotherapy.

Possible Complications

• Fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion), which can cause shortness of breath
• Fluid between the lung and chest wall (pleural effusion), which can cause shortness of breath
• Further spread of the cancer
• Side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your health care provider if you have a history of cancer and you develop:

• Coughing up blood
• Persistent cough
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained weight loss

Prevention

Not all cancers can be prevented. However, many can be prevented by:

• Eating a healthy diet
• Exercising regularly
• Limiting alcohol consumption
• Not smoking

Alternative Names

Lung metastases

References

Rusch VW. Lung metastases. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKenna WG. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008:chap 58.

Update Date: 4/2/2012

Reviewed by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.