tumorsejten

Tumorsejten is a term occasionally used in Swedish medical writing to describe the iatrogenic spread of malignant cells that can occur during diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. It is not a formally standardized term in international oncological nomenclature, but it is used to refer to the phenomenon of tumor cells implanting at new sites after procedural manipulation.

The underlying concept is tumor seeding: malignant cells are dislodged from a primary tumor and transported to another location, where they implant and grow. Mechanisms include direct implantation along needle tracts after biopsy, after surgical manipulation of a tumor, or via instruments and insufflation gases during minimally invasive procedures. Cells may also spread through body cavities and implant on peritoneal surfaces, pleura, or at incision or port sites (port-site metastasis).

Clinically, tumor seeding can lead to new foci of disease that complicate treatment and worsen prognosis. It is more often discussed in the context of cancers with a tendency to shed cells, and situations where tumoral tissue is exposed or disrupted. Risk factors include ruptured or fragile tumors, extensive handling, and certain surgical or endoscopic techniques.

Prevention focuses on meticulous surgical technique, minimizing tumor disruption, use of protective retrieval bags, reduced instrument contamination, and thorough intraoperative irrigation when appropriate. In suspected cases, management may involve local therapy to the seed lesions (surgery, radiotherapy, or systemic therapy) tailored to the primary cancer.

In summary, while not a universally standardized term, tumorsejten describes iatrogenic tumor seeding, a recognized concern in cancer treatment that underscores the importance of careful procedural practice to limit dissemination.