Lymph Node Metastasis

Lymph node metastasis refers to the spread of cancer cells from their original tumor to nearby lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures that are part of the immune system, helping to fight infections. When cancer cells travel through the lymphatic system, they can settle in these nodes, which can indicate the cancer's progression. Detecting metastasis in lymph nodes is important for determining the stage of cancer and planning appropriate treatment strategies. It can affect prognosis and how aggressively the cancer should be treated.