Lymphangiosa carcinomatosa is the metastasis of cancer cells through the lymphatic channels. The pulmonary form of the phenomenon is considered the most relevant variant from a clinical point of view. At this stage, the cancer is usually no longer considered curable.
What is lymphangiosa carcinomatosa?
The collective term cancer covers a wide variety of malignant tissue neoplasms. In contrast to benign neoplasms, malignant tumor forms spread at a high rate and are characterized by rapid growth due to high cell division rates. Malignant cancer cells invasively infiltrate healthy tissue, destroying organs and other tissues. Right after diseases of the cardiovascular system, malignant cancers form the most common cause of death. Malignant tumor cells can spread along a wide variety of body tissues. Lymphangiosis carcinomatosa is a spread of cancer along the lymphatic channels. Usually, the phenomenon occurs in the skin. However, in some cancers, the phenomenon is also observed in organs such as the lungs. Lymphangiosis carcinomatosa is itself only the symptom. The overriding primary disease is cancer of various types.
Causes
Lymphangiosis carcinomatosa may be caused by various types of cancer. The phenomenon occurs in the context of metastasis. In this process, daughter tumors of a primary tumor settle in more distant tissues. A prerequisite of any metastasis is the invasiveness of the cancer, i.e., it breaks through tissue and reaches such systems as the lymphatic and blood systems. Even small tumors of certain malignancy can metastasize. Lymphangiosis carcinomatosa is thus ultimately a symptom of invasive malignant tumors that form daughter tumors with their cells after infiltrating the lymphatic vessels at another site of the body. Clinically, the form pulmonary lymphangiosis carcinomatosa plays a role. This is a pulmonary metastasis in which the malignant cells reach the lungs via the lymphatics. The primary cause of these metastases may be breast carcinoma, for example. However, tumors such as prostate carcinoma, bronchial carcinoma, or pancreatic carcinoma can also spread to the lungs via the lymphatic pathways.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Symptoms of patients with lymphangiosis carcinomatosa depend on the context, so especially the organ colonized. For the pulmonary form, air shortage in the sense of dyspnea is considered the leading symptom. Restrictive ventilatory dysfunction results from pulmonary colonization. All forms of lymphangiosis carcinomatosis may also lead to swelling of the lymphatic system or cause induration in the lymph nodes. Such symptoms, however, are in and of themselves relatively nonspecific and merely indicate immune system activity, as is also present in infections. Fatigue, tiredness and reduced physical performance are also non-specific symptoms that can be present in many other diseases. Basically, lymphangiosis cacinomatosa often leads to a so-called lymphatic congestion. The drainage of the lymph is therefore no longer guaranteed due to the infiltration. This often results in a fluid stasis in the lymphatic channels. As a rule, this phenomenon is painless and manifests itself exclusively in the form of swelling.
Diagnosis and course of the disease
The timing of diagnosis plays a crucial role for malignant cancer. It is not for nothing that cancer screening has been extensively recommended since the recent past. As long as cancer is localized, there is a better chance of cure. As soon as lamphangiosis cacinomatosa has occurred, the chances of cure worsen. Basically, this is true for any metastasis. The clinical picture of lamphangiosis carcinomatosa is characterized by reddish or blue, relatively areal infiltration. Lymphangiosis carcinomatosa affects either the skin or organs and tissues such as the lungs. The diagnosis is usually made radiologically by the physician. Microscopic invasion of lymphatic capillaries can be diagnosed by examination of a resection specimen. In the context of diagnostics, the TNM classification plays an important role. Prognoses are usually given in ten-year survival rates for malignant tumors.
Complications
Usually, lymphangiosa carcinomatosa leads to the death of the patient. In this case, the exact life expectancy usually cannot be predicted.In most cases, however, treatment is no longer possible, so that the life expectancy of the person affected by this disease is significantly reduced. Those affected suffer first and foremost from severe fatigue and exhaustion. The resilience of the affected person is significantly reduced by the cancer, so that physically strenuous activities are usually no longer possible. However, the further course of lymphangiosa carcinomatosa also depends very much on the tumor that is responsible for the metastases. Furthermore, respiratory distress may also occur, which can significantly reduce the quality of life. Unfortunately, a causal treatment of lymphangiosa carcinomatosa is not possible. In many cases, those affected and their relatives are dependent on psychological treatment if they suffer from depression or other psychological upsets. The individual complaints and symptoms can be limited in many cases. However, a complete cure is not possible.
When should one go to the doctor?
Lymphangiosa carcinomatosa is a serious disease development that must be diagnosed and treated immediately. Cancer patients who notice swelling of the lymph nodes, shortness of breath, or faintness without these symptoms being due to side effects of treatment or to the actual disease should inform the physician. The physician can quickly detect lymphangiosa carcinomatosa and take the necessary steps. Since the cancer is usually no longer curable when lymphangiosa carcinomatosa occurs, further therapy focuses on symptomatic treatment. This is supported by therapeutic measures. Affected patients must be monitored closely, as medication must be regularly adjusted to the rapidly progressing cancer at this stage. The diagnosis of lymphangiosa carcinomatosa is usually made by the responsible internist or family physician. The physician will recommend psychological care to the patient in connection with the diagnosis. In the final stages of the disease, palliative care measures must be taken to allow the patient to live symptom-free.
Treatment and therapy
The therapy of lymphangiosis carcinomatosis depends on the circumstances. As an example, the pulmonary form of the phenomenon will be discussed here. In principle, all treatment steps for the therapy of lymphangiosis carcinomatosa are based on the individual symptoms. The focus of treatment is usually on alleviating the symptoms and thus improving the quality of life. Causal treatment is usually no longer successful at this stage. In the pulmonary form, therefore, it is primarily the shortage of air that is treated symptomatically. For this purpose, higher-dose glucocorticoids such as cortisone are used. In addition, loop diuretics are available for symptomatic treatment of air shortage. The latter drugs primarily dehydrate the lungs. In addition, theophylline is sometimes used in individual cases. At the same time, cytostatic drugs are usually administered to the primary tumor disease in order to improve the symptoms. Although the disease is no longer considered curable at this stage, it can be delayed to gain valuable time. In addition, “miracles” have already been reported in connection with end-stage tumor diseases that have not yet been explained in detail. In order to improve the patient’s quality of life, he or she should ideally not allow the unfavorable prognosis to take away his or her courage to face life. To improve the psychological situation of those affected, supportive psychotherapy can help.
Outlook and prognosis
Lymphangiosa carcinomatosa has an extremely unfavorable prognosis. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system that is not curable at this stage with current medical options. Metastases have formed in the organism, which will not lead to recovery of the patient despite all efforts. The focus of treatment at this stage of the cancer is on improving the quality of life and alleviating symptoms. The progress of the disease should be delayed in a treatment as long as possible. The organism’s dysfunctions are monitored and treated with the available options.Without medical care, the disease progresses more rapidly and numerous complaints arise. In particular, pain occurs that is almost unbearable for the person affected. Due to the very poor prognosis, the disease represents a heavy burden for the patient as well as his or her relatives. In most cases, states of emotional overload are to be expected immediately after diagnosis. An increase in symptoms is to be expected, as the psychological situation inevitably affects the physical condition. In addition, secondary psychological disorders may develop, contributing to a further deterioration of the patient’s overall situation.
Prevention
Lymphangiosis carcinomatosa can be prevented to some extent. Numerous preventive measures and early detection measures for cancer are now available. In addition, many causative factors of cancer are established nowadays. The exogenous causative factors can be eliminated from one’s life through specific preventive measures. However, since cancer also has endogenous causative factors, cancer can still occur. However, early detection examinations often detect one before lymphangiosis carcinomatosa has occurred.
Follow-up
Lymphangiosa carcinomatosa can cause many complications and various discomforts in the affected person, all of which can have a very negative impact on the quality of life and also on the daily life of the affected person. Therefore, the patient should seek medical attention at the first symptoms and signs of the disease in order to prevent further worsening of the symptoms. However, at this stage the cancer can usually no longer be completely cured, so that only the delay of its spread is possible. Most of those affected suffer from severe breathing difficulties, resulting in shortness of breath. Likewise, most sufferers are very tired and fatigued and therefore no longer actively participate in everyday life. The quality of life of the affected person is considerably reduced by lymphangiosa carcinomatosa. In many cases, the disease also leads to severe psychological upsets or depression, with the affected person’s parents or relatives being particularly affected by these upsets. Lymphangiosa carcinomatosa eventually leads to the death of the affected person, so that the life expectancy of the patient is significantly reduced by this disease.
This is what you can do yourself
At the stage of lymphangiosa carcinomatosa, there are limited options for self-help as far as the prognosis of the disease is concerned. A cure is no longer possible. However, intensive symptomatic therapies can contribute to prolonging life. However, the patient himself has a greater influence on his quality of life during the disease or for its prophylaxis. Since lymphangiosa carcinomatosa is a complication of breast cancer or various other carcinomas, cancer prevention can play an essential role in preventing the disease. Specifically in the prevention of breast cancer, there are several self-help options. Medical societies recommend that women self-examine their breasts for early detection of cancer. Self-examination should be performed five to seven days after the onset of menstruation or shortly after it ends. Participation in a screening program beginning at age 30 is also recommended. In case of conspicuous changes in and around the breast, specialized treatment centers for breast diseases should be visited as soon as possible. In this way, either lymphangiosa carcinomatosa can be excluded or, after its early diagnosis, the 5-year survival rate can be increased by rapid initiation of treatment. But even in the context of lymphangiosa carcinomatosa, the affected patient can still contribute to a better quality of life by taking the initiative. Among other things, patients can improve their psychological situation by taking advantage of supportive psychotherapy.
