Metastasis
A "daughter" or secondary tumour. One feature of malignant tumours is their tendency to metastasise. This can happen spontaneously e.g. if one or a few tumour cells break off the "parent" or primary tumour and follow the blood stream to other organs or body parts. Organs most likely to get metastases from tumours elsewhere in the body are the liver, kidneys and brain, but metastases may be found anywhere in the body. Typically metastases tend to be multiple. Therefore it is important to use imaging techniques that will show up all metastases, including the very small ones.
GE Healthcare Glossary