Metastases are metastases of malignant tumors originating from another location. These are often from the mammary gland, intestine, kidney, bladder, skin, testicles, bone/soft tissue or from the lungs themselves. However, the exact mechanism by which tumor cells settle in the lungs is still unclear.
Lung metastases usually only cause symptoms at a late stage. Depending on the location, however, lung metastases can occasionally cause pain (in the chest), shortness of breath or coughing.
Imaging (X-ray, computer tomography) plays the main role in the visualization and diagnosis of lung metastases. As lung metastases often do not cause any symptoms, they are usually only discovered by chance, for example during a check-up or as part of a follow-up check of a known malignant tumor.
The optimal treatment option is decided in a meeting with various specialists from thoracic surgery, oncology, radiotherapy and radiology (multidisciplinary tumor board conference). The options are chemotherapy, radiation, surgery; as sole treatment or in combination.
The aim of the surgical treatment option is to completely remove the lung metastasis(es). The procedure is performed under general anesthesia using a minimally invasive procedure (keyhole technique) or an open approach (thoracotomy). The aim is to remove as little healthy lung tissue as possible (parenchyma-sparing resection). One of the many technical possibilities is the use of a laser for deep lung metastases.
You can either register yourself or be referred by your primary care physician, specialist.