Micrometastasis

Micrometastasis is a form of metastasis (the spread of a cancer from its original location to other sites in the body) in which the newly formed tumors are too minuscule to be detected.[1]

Adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant radiotherapy are directed at killing any micrometastases, thus preventing relapse (regrowth of the cancer) and the (likely) death of the patient. Early detection of micrometastases could identify the patients who are most (and least) likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ micrometastasis - definition of micrometastasis in the Medical dictionary - by the Free Online Medical Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia
  2. ↑ Klaus Pantel; Richard J. Cote; Øystein Fodstad (May 1999). "Detection and Clinical Importance of Micrometastatic Disease, Journal of the National Cancer Institute". JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst. Oxford Journals Medicine. pp. 1113–1124. ISSN 0027-8874. Retrieved 2013-02-06.


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