cavity metastasis
Last reviewed 01/2018
Tumour may seed any body cavity or surface, e.g.:
- peritoneal cavity
- pleural cavity
- pericardial cavity
- joint cavities
- cerebrospinal space
Fragments of tumour detach from the primary and disperse within the fluid lining the cavity. A prime example is that of ovarian tumours which may fill the peritoneal cavity with a binding mass of gelatinous metastasis - pseudomyxoma peritonei. Another rare but serious example is that of certain brain tumours, e.g. medulloblastoma, which spread via the CSF to give meningeal deposits.