{{Short description|Cancer of epithelial cells}} '''Carcinosis''', or '''carcinomatosis''', is disseminated cancer, forms of metastasis, whether used generally or in specific patterns of spread.

==Usage== Carcinomatosis is often restricted to tumors of epithelial origin, adenocarcinomas, while sarcomatosis describes the dissemination of tumors of mesenchymal origin, sarcomas.<ref name="Oei2010">{{cite journal|last1=Oei|first1=T. N.|last2=Jagannathan|first2=J. P.|last3=Ramaiya|first3=N.|last4=Ros|first4=P. R.|title=Peritoneal Sarcomatosis Versus Peritoneal Carcinomatosis: Imaging Findings at MDCT|journal=American Journal of Roentgenology|volume=195|issue=3|year=2010|pages=W229–W235|issn=0361-803X|doi=10.2214/AJR.09.3907|pmid=20729420}}</ref>

==Lung==

===Lymphangitic carcinomatosis=== When most tumors metastasize to the lung, they form distinct nodules, but about 7% spread through the lymph vessels of the lung.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Prakash| first1=P. |last2=Kalra |first2=M. K. |last3=Sharma |first3=A. |last4=Shepard |first4=J.-A. O. |last5=Digumarthy |first5=S. R. |title=FDG PET/CT in Assessment of Pulmonary Lymphangitic Carcinomatosis|journal=American Journal of Roentgenology |volume=194 |issue=1 |year=2009 |pages=231–236 |issn=0361-803X |doi=10.2214/AJR.09.3059 | pmid=20028927 }}</ref> They may impair breathing in several ways; the lung becomes stiffer; blood vessels traveling alongside the distended lymph vessels become compressed.<ref>{{cite book |author=Mark A. Marinella |title=Handbook of Cancer Emergencies |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SylbZo97FCkC&pg=PA55 |accessdate=29 February 2012 |date=7 May 2009 |publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning |isbn=978-0-7637-6989-5 |pages=55–57 |chapter=12. Lymphangitic carcinomatosis }}</ref>

===Miliary carcinosis=== A pattern of multiple small nodular metastases has been described as miliary carcinosis which has a radiographic appearance similar to miliary tuberculosis.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Marks |first1=J. L. |title=Metastatic Tumors of the Lung |journal=Chest |volume=17 |issue=1 |year=1950 |pages=63–73 |issn=0012-3692 |doi=10.1378/chest.17.1.63 |pmid=15399335 }}</ref>

==Body cavities== Any potential space may be seeded with tumor cells that grow along surfaces, but which may not invade below the surfaces. In rare cases, the joint spaces are affected.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Currall |first1=Verity A. |last2=Dixon |first2=John H. |title=Synovial Metastasis |journal=The Journal of Arthroplasty |volume=23 |issue=4 |year=2008 |pages=631–636 |issn=0883-5403 |doi=10.1016/j.arth.2007.04.034|pmid=18514889 }}</ref>

===Peritoneal carcinomatosis=== [[File:Intestines with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer.jpg|thumb|Intestines with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer, appearing as a grainy serosal surface]] {{Main|Peritoneal carcinomatosis}} The lining of the abdominal cavity is a common site for surface dissemination. Ovarian carcinomas are common. Fluid produced by the cells can produce ascites which is typical in carcinomatosis, but less common in peritoneal sarcomatosis.<ref name="Oei2010"/> Fluid can be serous as seen in primary peritoneal carcinoma or mucinous such as found in pseudomyxoma peritonei which is typically a tumor derived from the appendix.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Young |first1=Robert H. |title=Pseudomyxoma peritonei and selected other aspects of the spread of appendiceal neoplasms |journal=Seminars in Diagnostic Pathology |volume=21 |issue=2 |year=2004 |pages=134–150 |issn=0740-2570 |doi=10.1053/j.semdp.2004.12.002 |pmid=15807473}}</ref>

===Pleural carcinosis=== Pleural carcinosis is associated with malignant pleural effusion and poor prognosis.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Ruffini|first1=E|title=The significance of intraoperative pleural effusion during surgery for bronchogenic carcinoma|journal=European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery|volume=21|issue=3|year=2002|pages=508–513|issn=1010-7940|doi=10.1016/S1010-7940(01)01166-6|pmid=11888772|doi-access=free|hdl=11380/1405669|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

===Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis=== The meningeal covering of the central nervous system may be the site of tumor growth. Breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma are the most common tumors.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Martins |first1=Sandro José |last2=Azevedo |first2=Carla Rameri Alexandre Silva de |last3=Chinen |first3=Ludmilla Thomé Domingos |last4=Cruz |first4=Marcelo Rocha Sousa |last5=Peterlevitz |first5=Marcos Aurélio |last6=Gimenes |first6=Daniel Luiz |title=Meningeal carcinomatosis in solid tumors |journal=Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria |volume=69 |issue=6 |year=2011 |pages=973–980 |issn=0004-282X |doi=10.1590/S0004-282X2011000700024 |pmid=22297890 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Treatment== Colorectal cancer patients with peritoneal involvement can be treated with oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Such treatment is not expected to be curative, but can extend the lives of patients.<ref>Joerg O W Pelz, Terence C. Chua, Jesus Esquivel, et al. BMC Cancer, Volume 10, Published - Dec 22 2010. https://jhu.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/evaluation-of-best-supportive-care-and-systemic-chemotherapy-as-t-3</ref> Some patients may be cured through hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy, but the procedure entails a high degree of risk for morbidity or death.

==References== {{reflist|2}}

== External links == * [http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=285963 Carcinosis] entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

Category:Oncology