Lets say someone goes to the doctor: The doctor sees tumors in the lungs and in the liver. Why does the doctor know that its liver cancer that spread to the lungs and not lung cancer that spread to the liver?

Question

Lets say someone goes to the doctor: The doctor sees tumors in the lungs and in the liver. Why does the doctor know that its liver cancer that spread to the lungs and not lung cancer that spread to the liver?

In: 1592

Answer 1

Tumours need certain micro environments to grow (hormones, matrix to stick to etc) and it just so happens that certain organs will provide these favourable conditions to cancer cells that have been shed (metastasised) from certain other organs.

Histopathology also helps to confirm as the cells will still have the appearance of cells from specific organs. Cells around the body look quite characteristic of their type.