Hepatic Metastases is another name for Liver Metastases, that is, the metastatic disease affecting the liver. Metastasis is the spreading of a disease from one organ to another part or non-adjacent organ. It commonly occurs with the spreading of cancer.
Cancer will often begin after a single cell within a tissue is genetically damaged. This cell produces a cancer stem cell, which will possess a malignant phenotype. These cancer stem cells have the capability to undergo uncontrolled abnormal mitosis; this process will increase the number of cancer cells in any one location. These cancer cells at the original location will, in time, become clinically detectable and are labeled as a primary tumor. There are types of cancer cells that are able to penetrate and infiltrate normal tissues that are surrounding the local area. When these cancer cells get into nearby tissues they can produce another 'daughter' tumor.
The process of this newly formed tumor growing in an adjacent site is called a local metastasis. Whil some cancer cells have the ability to penetrate nearby tissue, others can penetrate the walls of blood or lymphatic vessels. If they can do this then they will be able to circulate through the bloodstream to other parts and tissues within the body. Cells that travel through blood vessels are known as hematogeneous spread while cells that travel through the lymphatic vessels are known as lymphatic spread. When the cells rest at another point in the body, they are then able to penetrate the walls of these vessels and continue to multiply.
Metastasis is considered as one of three hallmarks of malignancy, the other two are benign and tumors. Metastasis is a process that most tumors and neoplasms can do but the degree to which they can metastasize depends on the variety. Tumors that do metastasize the new tumor that is formed is referred to as a secondary or metastatic tumor.
Cancer will often begin after a single cell within a tissue is genetically damaged. This cell produces a cancer stem cell, which will possess a malignant phenotype. These cancer stem cells have the capability to undergo uncontrolled abnormal mitosis; this process will increase the number of cancer cells in any one location. These cancer cells at the original location will, in time, become clinically detectable and are labeled as a primary tumor. There are types of cancer cells that are able to penetrate and infiltrate normal tissues that are surrounding the local area. When these cancer cells get into nearby tissues they can produce another 'daughter' tumor.
The process of this newly formed tumor growing in an adjacent site is called a local metastasis. Whil some cancer cells have the ability to penetrate nearby tissue, others can penetrate the walls of blood or lymphatic vessels. If they can do this then they will be able to circulate through the bloodstream to other parts and tissues within the body. Cells that travel through blood vessels are known as hematogeneous spread while cells that travel through the lymphatic vessels are known as lymphatic spread. When the cells rest at another point in the body, they are then able to penetrate the walls of these vessels and continue to multiply.
Metastasis is considered as one of three hallmarks of malignancy, the other two are benign and tumors. Metastasis is a process that most tumors and neoplasms can do but the degree to which they can metastasize depends on the variety. Tumors that do metastasize the new tumor that is formed is referred to as a secondary or metastatic tumor.
