In the article, we consider the prognosis of life expectancy for metastases in the lymph nodes.
When atypical cells divide uncontrollably, tumors form in the body. If the process is benign, then they remain in capsules, not spreading further. A malignant tumor grows due to particles coming off from it and moving through the vessels. Some of them die, while others cling to different parts of the body and divide uncontrollably, forming secondary foci. They are called metastases. They represent the main danger in cancer, which disrupt the functioning of internal organs, leading to death.
The prognosis for metastases in the lymph nodes is most often disappointing.
Why are metastases spreading?
First of all, it is necessary to identify the following pathways for the spread of malignant neoplasms: mixed, hematogenous and lymphogenous. When the first metastasis is carried out, the tumor cells first enter the lymphatic vessel, then to other lymph nodes that are distant and close. Most often, this type of metastasis is cancerous epithelial formation. For example, this is how melanoma occurs.
A tumor located in the internal organs can form metastases in the lymph nodes. Life expectancy is of interest to many. Lymphogenic pathways have been studied very well, in connection with which doctors most often recognize this tumor in the first stages and medical care is provided to the patient in a timely manner. But it should be noted that regional metastases in a patient can occur within a year, and therefore he needs to be under medical supervision at this time.
Hematogenous metastasis
If we are talking about hematogenous metastasis, then the tumor processes in this case spread through the blood stream and move from the inflamed organ to a healthy one.
Cervical lymph nodes can constitute a collector that accumulates lymph, which comes from the head and legs, arms, peritoneum, trunk and sternum.
The prognosis for metastases in the lymph nodes of the neck will be discussed below.
The lymphatic system functions by supporting metabolic and filtration processes at the cellular level. These nodes produce lymphocytes - special immune cells that fight foreign elements that penetrate the human body.
Age factor
The reasons that can affect the formation of metastases differ in various features. However, first of all, the age factor plays an important role here, that is, such neoplasms mainly appear in elderly patients. In addition, they develop due to the effects of concomitant diseases. This also applies to chronic pathologies that weaken the defenses of the human body.
Tumor size
Also, the size of the tumor can affect the occurrence of metastases. Thus, the larger the area of the malignant neoplasm, the greater the consequences. In addition, the most dangerous is the growth of a malignant tumor in the surface of the organ, and this can cause metastasis. A similar phenomenon rarely occurs if a neoplasm enters the lumen of a particular organ.
Distribution methods
Malignant particles cannot move independently inside the body. They are separated from the primary focus, and the body system transfers them along with the flow of blood or lymph. Atypical cells in a certain area stop and form secondary foci. There are three main ways of spreading oncological formations with blood: with lymph - it differs in the penetration of malignant particles into the lymphatic vessels, settling in distant or neighboring nodes; with blood - characterized by their distribution in individual organs; mixed - metastases spread through the blood vessels of the circulatory system or lymph. If oncological particles move exclusively with lymphatic flow, this indicates epithelial formations such as melanoma.
Varieties
In the human body there are approximately a thousand lymph nodes. Their task is to combat pathological processes, viruses and infections. Some of them may increase in size. This also happens with cancers.
Researchers were able to determine that inflammation of specific lymph nodes depends on the location of the cancer. They are classified by zones in the body:
- Cervical - the main lymphatic collector is located in the neck. Nodes are affected either in the soft tissues of the neck, or inside it. Their shape and structure change, size increases. At the very beginning, they only increase, and later begin to fuse with neighboring tissues and with each other. The prognosis is 48% of survivors over 5 years, subject to early detection.
- Inguinal - such nodes delay pathogenic microorganisms that penetrate from the lower extremities and the reproductive system, and destroy them. Superficial and deep lymph nodes stand out. Their number can vary significantly. The number of surface nodes - from four to twenty, deep - from one to seven. They become rounded with lesion, fuse with neighboring tissues, almost motionless. The forecast is 63% of survivors over 5 years.
- Metastases can enter the iliac lymph nodes. The prognosis will be the same as in the situation with retroperitoneal lymph nodes.
- Retroperitoneal - located in the abdomen. In this area, the lymphatic system includes blood vessels, regional nodes and large lymph collectors. The affected areas of lymph are distinguished by the uniformity of the structure, clear contours, density, merging into large conglomerates. The prognosis for metastases to the retroperitoneal lymph nodes is 64% of survivors over 5 years.
- Paraaortic - located in front of the lumbar spine. They go along the aorta.
- Abdominal cavity - the nodular lymph system is well developed in the peritoneum; it represents a barrier preventing the spread of infections in this area. There are intra-wall and parietal lymph nodes. They can in some cases increase in diameter by more than ten centimeters. The prognosis for metastases in the lymph nodes of the abdominal cavity is 63% of survivors over 5 years.
- Axillary - in the armpit area there are from 12 to 45 nodes. Their increase can also be due to the oncological process in any organ, mainly in the mammary gland.
- Mediastinum - in the thoracic cavity is a lymph flow, sternal and anterior lymph nodes. If the patient has pulmonary oncology, then the area behind the sternum is more often affected, with a disease of the mammary gland - the front zone. The prognosis for metastases in the mediastinal lymph nodes is 63% of survivors over 5 years.
- Supraclavicular - foci of the secondary type can affect different areas of the lymphatic supraclavicular system. The localization of inflamed nodes helps specialists determine in which particular organ the primary focus is located. The right side is responsible for prostate and lung cancer, the area of the triangle indicates an oncological process in the lungs and mammary gland, the left side - about stomach cancer. Most often, the defeat of the lymph nodes is the third or fourth stage in oncology. As an exception, a pancreatic tumor is allocated, which spreads metastases from the first stage along the lymph. Poor prognosis for metastases in the lymph nodes with pancreatic cancer is associated with this.
Symptoms
Signs of metastases that appeared in the lymph nodes can be primary in nature, when the formation increases greatly in size, and with a visual examination, the specialist will see this. Often with these symptoms, inguinal, supraclavicular, axillary, and cervical lymph nodes change. Their structure is painless and soft elastic.
With an increase in lymph nodes, the patient begins to lose weight. In addition, there is a general weakness. Anemia may also occur. Suspicious symptoms such as fever, neurosis, persistent colds, migraines, the appearance of redness on the epidermis and an increase in liver size can alert the patient.
Cancer Progression
With the appearance of metastases, we can talk about the progression of malignant neoplasms. If the patient showed these signs, the lymph nodes increased, then you should immediately contact a qualified specialist and in no case resort to self-medication.
Quite often, metastases are first diagnosed and only after that a pathological source, that is, a tumor itself. I must say that metastases in the cervical lymph nodes most often appear in people aged 20 to 30 years or after 60. As already noted, with metastases, patients begin to feel weak, itchy, sweating and fever, lose their appetite. Such symptoms are vague or even absent, in connection with which patients very rarely seek medical help.
With damage to the cervical lymph nodes, the following clinical picture is observed: the shape of the lymph nodes changes, they increase. In this case, an ultrasound scan is required, which will help to find a defect in the ratio of both the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the node, and if it is rounded, then this most likely indicates its defeat.
The prognosis for cancer with metastases to the lymph nodes depends on the stage.
Degrees
In the malignant process, the lymphatic system is involved either partially or completely. Depending on this, there are three degrees:
- mild - the inflammatory process has affected one to three nodes, mainly of a regional type;
- medium - from four to nine pieces are involved;
- the latter - more than ten sites are inflamed, while metastases appeared in the distant lymphatic sections.
The increase in several departments is determined during palpation or visually. To study the pathology in more detail, it is necessary to resort to additional diagnostic methods.
Diagnostics
If the lymph nodes increase, this does not in all cases indicate the presence of oncological formation in the body. The presence of a malignant process can be confirmed by laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods: PET-CT (positron emission computed tomography) is carried out by introducing a radioactive indicator into the vessels, then computed tomography is done. The patient should lie down without talking or moving for an hour. This method allows you to determine metastases throughout the body. Using MRI, you can also enter a contrast agent. Doctors take pictures of organs, tissues and blood vessels in layers, revealing tumors after this.
Thanks to a biopsy, regional nodes can not be eliminated during removal of the initial focus if they do not have metastases. From it take material that is examined under a microscope. The fence is made with a thin needle.
Modern equipment makes it possible to detect lymphatic lesions in areas that cannot be palpated.
Treatment
Metastases in the lymph nodes are treated in the same way as any oncology processes in the body. The main therapeutic methods:
- lymphadenectomy - the elimination of the affected areas by surgery; they are most often removed during excision of the primary focus;
- radiation therapy - radiation is used if remote areas are affected;
- chemotherapy - through drugs, malignant cells are destroyed; this method is used comprehensively along with lymphadenectomy to reduce the likelihood of relapse.
Treatment can be prescribed only by a specialist. The combination of different types is determined by the situation.
Prognosis for metastases in the lymph nodes
If you rely solely on metastasis of the lymph nodes, then calculating the prognosis is quite difficult. Much is determined by the degree of development and behavior of the primary focus. Metastases in the lymph nodes mainly occur in its last stages, so the prognosis is usually poor. Especially if it is due to oncology of the mammary gland, kidneys or stomach. Life expectancy is limited to two years. In the cervical nodes, metastases are characterized by a survival rate of five years, in half the cases, and in the inguinal - in 60%. What is the prognosis for thyroid cancer with metastases to the lymph nodes?
After a thyroidectory in the presence of oncology of the thyroid gland of the first and second stages without metastases and relapses, five-year survival is observed in 94% of patients. In the case of hemithyroidectory with an isthmus, survival for five years is observed in 93% of patients.
Predictions for this type of oncology are completely dependent on the patient’s treatment, the primary prevalence and differentiation of oncology. If the tumor has a highly differentiated form - the follicular and papillary type of oncology, then 85-90% of people achieve complete cure with a follow-up period of 11-15 years.
Reviews
According to doctors, with metastases in the lymph nodes, it is rather difficult to make a life expectancy. This is influenced by numerous factors.
The treatment of metastases in the lymph nodes is very effective in Israel, where there is extensive experience and high-tech techniques are used. Specialists successfully treat not only primary foci, but also their metastases. For example, when treating them in the lymph nodes, the latest non-radiation method of ultrasonic ablation is used here.
Any patient, regardless of the stage of the disease, is provided with qualified medical care. Metastases must be treated, as this not only prevents the spread of pathology, but also prolongs a person’s life.
We examined the prognosis for metastases in the lymph nodes.