Complications caused by prostate cancer

Most cancers will cause some complications, and prostate cancer is no exception. Therefore, we need to know what complications prostate cancer may cause. Let us introduce them to you below. Only by knowing the complications caused by prostate cancer can we treat them together when treating prostate cancer.

Lymphatic metastasis: The first lymph nodes invaded by prostate cancer are the obturator-internal iliac chain. In fact, the lymph nodes at the obturator foramen are generally not invaded. In clinical practice, the internal iliac lymph nodes are often called obturator lymph nodes. They are located on the inner side of the external iliac vein and are the most important lymph nodes that should be removed along the course of the internal iliac vessels.

In recent years, the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis relies on CT and MR, but they cannot detect small lesions. Lymph node angiography can detect 70% to 90% of metastases. However, the false negative and false positive rates are high, and it is rarely used in recent years. The most valuable diagnostic modified lymph node dissection, that is, the removal of the lymph nodes between the internal and external iliac vessels and the obturator foramen, is more accurate for staging and can avoid complications such as lymph leakage, lymphadenopathy, and lower limb swelling caused by the previous removal of iliac vessels, obturator foramen, pelvic wall, and anterior iliac lymph nodes, because even extensive dissection cannot prevent existing spread.

Distant metastasis: When intravenous urography reveals ureteral obstruction, it means that the tumor has invaded the seminal vesicle, bladder neck and lymph nodes, and there is a possibility of distant metastasis.

Bone metastasis is common, second only to lymph nodes. Whole body isotope scanning is enhanced but the plain film is normal, which should be considered as metastasis. Lung X-ray can detect lung metastasis, which is often lymphatic spread and nodules are rare.

It can be seen that lymph metastasis is the most common complication of prostate cancer. Therefore, when lymph metastasis occurs, we must also consider whether it is caused by prostate cancer. In this way, by comprehensively considering the disease, the treatment will be more comprehensive and the patient's life can be saved to the greatest extent.