Trauma-associated growth of suspected dormant micrometastasis

doi:10.1186/1471-2407-5-94

BMC Cancer
Volume 5

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Case report

Trauma-associated growth of suspected dormant micrometastasis

Nagi S El Saghir¹ , Ihab I Elhajj¹ , Fady B Geara² and Mukbil H Hourani³

¹Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

²Department of Radiation Therapy, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

³Department of Diagnostic Radiology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon

author email corresponding author email

BMC Cancer 2005, 5:94doi:10.1186/1471-2407-5-94


Published:	4 August 2005

Abstract

Background

Cancer patients may harbor micrometastases that remain dormant, clinically undetectable during a variable period of time. A traumatic event or surgery may trigger the balance towards tumor growth as a result of associated angiogenesis, cytokine and growth factors release.

Case presentation

We describe a patient with non-small lung cancer who had a rapid tumor growth and recurrence at a minor trauma site of his skull bone.

Conclusion

This case is an illustration of the phenomenon of tumor growth after trauma or surgery and its associated cellular mechanisms. This phenomenon deserves further investigation and study.