Metastatic Pattern of Spread of Colorectal Adenocarcinoma
Introduction:
Adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum. After resection, about 40% of patients will have a recurrence.
Prevalence: Common Metastasis Frequency: Common
References:
Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1992 Jan;174(1):27-32. PMID 1729745
BMC Cancer. 2009 Aug 7;9:274. PMID: 19664211
Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2008 Jun;132(6):931-9. PMID: 18517275
Primary Tumor:
Sorry, no description has been written for the primary tumor.
Known Metastatic Locations:
| Site | Frequency | Characteristics | Comments |
| Liver | Common | Hypoenhancing, Ring Enhancement | most common site |
| Lung Parenchyma | Common | Nodule | |
| Peritoneum | Common | ||
| Local Lymph Nodes | Common | colon: typically along the inferior mesenteric artery
rectal: typically retroperitoneal (esp internal iliac) |
|
| Surrounding Tissue | Common | rectal cancer has a higher rate of local LN or surrounding tissue recurrence |
|
| Distant Lymph Nodes | Rare | i.e. not intra-abdominal |
|
| Bone | Rare | does not occur without already having mets to liver and lung |
|
| Adrenal Glands | Rare | ||
| Kidney | Rare | ||
| Pancreas | Rare | ||
| Omentum | Rare | ||
| Bladder | Rare | local invasion from rectal cancer |
|
| Pleura | Rare | much more common in rectal cancer |
|
| Uterus | Very Rare | ||
| Thyroid | Very Rare | ||
| Small Intestine | Very Rare | ||
| Ovary | Very Rare | 
|
|
| Colon | Very Rare | ||
| Prostate | Very Rare | local invasion from rectal cancer |
|
| Skin (Cutaneous and Subcutaneous) | Very Rare | ||
| Spleen | Very Rare | ||
| Bronchus | Very Rare | PMID: 16475029 PMID: 11259704 PMID: 11243955
|