Clinical manifestations of secondary lesions depend on the organ in which they are located. If the lungs are damaged, severe shortness of breath may be a concern, not only during physical activity, but also at rest, as well as a cough with sputum streaked with blood. When the brain is damaged, headaches in the morning, dizziness, blurred vision (double vision), convulsions, speech disorders, and sensory distortions are observed. Common symptoms are:
- fast fatiguability;
- constant feeling of weakness, fatigue;
- permanent feeling of pain in the affected area;
- cramps and bleeding;
- cognitive and functional disorders.
The appearance of distant metastases is detected with an accuracy of up to 90% using special “golden” diagnostic methods: CT, MRI, PET-CT, ultrasound. The research technique is chosen by the attending physician based on the type of cancer the patient has, as well as the expected location of the formation of a secondary tumor (according to general symptoms).
An examination to identify possible foci of metastasis is carried out in patients:
- before the start of the treatment course;
- after surgical removal of the primary tumor.