Learn About Lung Metastases

What is the definition of Lung Metastases?

Lung metastases are cancerous tumors that start somewhere else in the body and spread to the lungs.

What are the alternative names for Lung Metastases?

Metastases to the lung; Metastatic cancer to the lung; Lung cancer - metastases; Lung mets

What are the causes of Lung Metastases?

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.

Nearly any cancer can spread to the lungs. Common cancers include:

  • Bladder cancer
  • Breast cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Kidney cancer
  • Melanoma
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Sarcoma
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Pancreatic cancer
  • Testicular cancer
What are the symptoms of Lung Metastases?

Symptoms may include any of the following:

  • Bloody sputum
  • Chest pain
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Weakness
  • Weight loss
Not sure about your diagnosis?
Check Your Symptoms
What are the current treatments for Lung Metastases?

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
  • Immunotherapy
  • Targeted systemic therapy
  • The placement of stents inside the airways
  • Laser therapy
  • Using local heat probes to destroy the cancer
  • Using very cold temperature to destroy the cancer
Who are the top Lung Metastases Local Doctors?
Eric C. Kleerup
Pulmonary Medicine | Intensive Care Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine | Intensive Care Medicine

The Regents Of The University Of California

900 Weyburn Place, 
Los Angeles, CA 
 8.9 mi
Offers Telehealth

Eric Kleerup is a Pulmonary Medicine specialist and an Intensive Care Medicine provider in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Kleerup and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lung Metastases. His top areas of expertise are Emphysema, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Acute Interstitial Pneumonia, and Bronchiectasis.

Pulmonary Medicine | Intensive Care Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine | Intensive Care Medicine

Cedars-Sinai Medical Care Foundation

8635 W 3rd St, 
Los Angeles, CA 
 7.9 mi
Offers Telehealth

Robert Wolfe is a Pulmonary Medicine specialist and an Intensive Care Medicine provider in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Wolfe and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lung Metastases. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Cough, Bronchiectasis, Vertigo, and Lung Metastases.

 
 
 
 
Learn about our expert tiers
Learn More
Pulmonary Medicine | Intensive Care Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine | Intensive Care Medicine

Cedars-Sinai Medical Care Foundation

8635 W 3rd St, 
Los Angeles, CA 
 7.9 mi
Offers Telehealth

Andrew Wachtel is a Pulmonary Medicine specialist and an Intensive Care Medicine provider in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Wachtel and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Lung Metastases. His top areas of expertise are Chronic Cough, Vertigo, Bronchiectasis, and Pneumonia.

What are the support groups for Lung Metastases?

You can ease the stress of illness by joining a support group where members share common experiences and problems.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Lung Metastases?

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.

What are the possible complications of Lung Metastases?

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 should I contact a medical professional for Lung Metastases?

Contact your provider if you have a history of cancer and you develop:

  • Coughing up blood
  • Persistent cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Unexplained weight loss
How do I prevent Lung Metastases?

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

  • Eating healthy foods
  • Exercising regularly
  • Limiting alcohol consumption
  • Not smoking
Bronchoscopy
Lung cancer - lateral chest x-ray
Lung cancer - frontal chest X-ray
Pulmonary nodule - front view chest x-ray
Pulmonary nodule, solitary - CT scan
Lung with squamous cell cancer - CT scan
Respiratory system
What are the latest Lung Metastases Clinical Trials?
One Fraction Simulation-Free Treatment With CT-Guided Stereotactic Adaptive Radiotherapy for Patients With Oligometastatic and Primary Lung Tumors (ONE STOP)

Summary: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has become a standard of care for medically inoperable or high-risk operable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. It is also increasingly used to treat lung metastases in patients with oligometastatic disease. While SBRT is a powerful tool for the treatment of lung tumors, access to specialized treatment can be limited for patients who live...

Match to trials
Find the right clinical trials for you in under a minute
Get started
Pleural Blood Patch for Lung Ablation: a Randomised Trial (Oxford Pleural Embolisation Trial - OxPET)

Summary: Thermal ablation is an established treatment for lung cancer. It involves insertion of a applicator under image guidance into a lung tumour and destroying it with radiofrequency, microwave or cryotherapy. One of the common side effects is pneumothorax, which is a leak of gas from the lungs when it punctured. Air leak necessitates placement of a drainage tube in more than half of patients undergoin...

What are the Latest Advances for Lung Metastases?
Complete Response to Nivolumab of Resected Adenocarcinoma NOS With Parotid Gland Origin and Lung Metastasis.
Lung Metastatectomy: Can Laser-Assisted Surgery Make a Difference?
Tired of the same old research?
Check Latest Advances
Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: June 17, 2024
Published By: Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

Arenberg 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.