5 ways of metastasis and spread of bladder cancer

The spread of bladder cancer mainly points to infiltration into the bladder wall until it affects the tissues outside the bladder and adjacent organs. Poorly differentiated tumor cells are prone to infiltration and metastasis. There are five ways for the spread of bladder cancer:

1. Lymphatic metastasis Lymphatic metastasis is the main route of metastasis, mainly to the pelvic lymph nodes, such as the obturator, internal iliac, external iliac and common iliac lymph nodes. In the later stage, it can metastasize to the parabronchial, hilar, mediastinal, supraclavicular, axillary and upper abdominal lymph nodes.

2. Hematogenous metastasis Hematogenous metastasis often occurs in the late stage of bladder cancer, mainly metastasizing to the liver, lungs, bones, brain, kidneys, spleen, skin, etc.

3. Direct Infiltration: About 50% of the patients who have infiltrated the superficial muscle layer have cancer cells in the lymphatic vessels. Almost all the lymph nodes of patients who have infiltrated the muscle layer have cancer cells. Most of the patients who have infiltrated around the bladder have distant lymph node metastasis.

4. Mucosal dissemination Cancer cells spread along the mucosa and may invade the ureteral orifice, causing dilation of the ipsilateral renal pelvis and ureter, leading to hydronephrosis and even renal failure; invading surrounding tissues may cause lumbar pain and rectal irritation symptoms.

5. Iatrogenic metastasis Iatrogenic metastasis is relatively common. This type of metastasis often occurs after surgical treatment, when cancer cells are implanted in the abdominal cavity or on the incision.