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metastasis Definition

me·tas·ta·sis (mə tas′tə sis)

noun pl. -·ses′-sēz′

  1. Rare change of form or matter; transformation
  2. Med. the spread of disease from one part of the body to another unrelated to it, as in the transfer of the cells of a malignant tumor by way of the bloodstream or lymphatics

Etymology: ModL < LL, a passing over, transition < Gr < methistanai, to place in another way, change < meta, after (see meta-) + histanai, to place (see stand)

metastasis Related Forms
met′a·stat′ic (met′ə stat′ik) adjective met′a·stat′i·cally adverb
metastasis Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • detect: The smallest detected metastasis was a micrometastasis with a diameter of 0.9 cm.
  • treat: In patients with regional lymph node metastases treated by nodal resection, it was less likely to recur than did radiotherapy.

Adjective modifier

  • nodal: Those without clinical evidence of nodal metastases avoided a neck dissection.
  • mediastinal: AB - BACKGROUND: Mediastinal lymph node metastases have rarely been reported in patients with pancreatic cancer.
  • osteolytic: This plain pelvic x-ray shows multiple osteolytic bone metastases.
  • hepatic: It should be noted that GIST patients may have hepatic metastases which could lead to hepatic impairment.
  • bony: Pain due to bony metastases is usually localized, except where there is associated nerve involvement or damage.
  • distant: Clearly, the detection of distant metastases will preclude further attempts at radical surgery.

Noun used with modifier

  • lymph: ABIs in excess of 0.2 in the primary tumor showed a decrease in the corresponding lymph node metastases.
  • node: Modified neck dissection should be considered for all with clinical evidence of node metastases.
  • liver: RESULTS: There was neither operative mortality nor liver metastasis cases in these cases.
  • melanoma: AB - BACKGROUND: Patients with distant melanoma metastases have median survivals of 4 to 8 months.
  • bone: Primary bone cancer is much less common than bone metastasis.
  • lung: One patient had a minor, brief reduction in lung metastases.

Preposition: in

  • node: Metastases in regional lymph nodes were found in 26 patients.
  • cancer: In addition, bone represents a relevant site of distant metastasis in breast cancer.
  • patient: The initial diagnosis was bone metastases in five patients.

Preposition: of

  • carcinoma: The mean age of patients with ovarian metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma was 57.4 years, compared to 50.2 years for adenocarcinoma.

Preposition: from

  • carcinoma: Intractable back pain possibly due to metastases from carcinoma of the prostate.
  • cancer: AB - Duodenal metastasis from primary lung cancer is extremely rare.