oligometastatic disease
Pronunciation: oh-li-go-met-uh-STAT-ik
A state of limited metastatic cancer burden, typically involving five or fewer metastatic sites, potentially curable with local therapies.
Full Definition
Oligometastatic disease represents an intermediate state between localized and widely disseminated cancer, characterized by a limited number of metastatic lesions that may be amenable to aggressive local treatment. In thoracic oncology, this concept has gained prominence as stereotactic radiation therapy and surgical metastasectomy show promise for improving outcomes. The definition varies but commonly includes five or fewer sites of disease outside the primary tumor.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenate when used as a compound adjective. The threshold number of lesions may vary by institution.
In Context
- "The patient has oligometastatic disease with two brain lesions amenable to radiosurgery." — Multidisciplinary conference
- "Aggressive local therapy may benefit patients with oligometastatic lung cancer." — Treatment planning