What are the metastatic pathways of bladder cancer

The reason why people are afraid of cancer is that this type of disease will metastasize after it develops to a certain extent, causing symptoms throughout the patient's body. Experts say that bladder cancer can also metastasize. So, what are the ways in which bladder cancer metastasizes? Let's learn about it below.

What are the metastatic pathways of bladder cancer? The metastatic pathways of bladder cancer include lymphatics, blood circulation, direct spread, and direct implantation of tumor cells.
1. Lymphatic metastasis is the most common route. Bladder cancer can metastasize to the internal iliac, external iliac, and obturator lymph nodes, or to the common iliac lymph nodes. Some people point out that the internal iliac and obturator lymph nodes are the first lymph nodes for bladder cancer metastasis.
2. Metastasis through the blood is common in advanced cases, most commonly in the liver, followed by the lungs and bones. Skin, adrenal glands, kidneys, pancreas, heart, testicles, salivary glands, ovaries, muscles and gastrointestinal tract have all been reported, but they are in the minority. Direct spread often occurs in the prostate or posterior urethra. Bladder cancer can extend outside the bladder and adhere to the pelvic cavity to form a fixed mass, or spread to the mucosa at the top of the bladder.
3. Direct implantation of tumor cells can occur during surgery, with masses forming at the bladder incision or under the skin incision after surgery. Recurrence of tumors in the bladder or the appearance of multiple tumors is also partly due to implantation of tumor cells. The appearance of tumors in the urethral stump after radical cystectomy may also be the result of surgical implantation.