Carcinomatosis (Carcinosis)

What type of cancer is carcinomatosis?

Carcinomatosis isn’t a type of cancer. It’s a rare condition that means cancer in one part of your body has spread, blanketing another part of your body with several new tumors. Sometimes, carcinomatosis (car-see-no-MA-toe-sis) is the first indication you have cancer. But carcinomatosis usually happens when you’ve been dealing with cancer for some time. Unfortunately, carcinomatosis is a sign your cancer is getting worse and can’t be cured. Healthcare providers may recommend treatment that eases your symptoms and gives you as much time as possible to be with your loved ones.

What are the most common forms of carcinomatosis?

There are three common forms of carcinomatosis that affect different parts of your body in different ways. Those forms are:

• Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. This condition has been linked to breast cancer, kidney cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and some types of skin cancer. These are original cancers that spread to the membranes that cover your brain and spinal cord.
• Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis. This condition means cancer that started in your breast, lungs or stomach has spread to the lymphatic system in your lungs.
• Peritoneal carcinomatosis. This condition can be linked to several original cancers that spread to the lining of your abdomen. These cancers are pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, gall bladder cancer, cancer of your appendix, ovarian cancer (sometimes called peritoneal carcinomatosis ovarian cancer) and rectal cancer.

Is carcinosis considered a form of metastasis?

The terms carcinomatosis and metastatic cancer both refer to cancer that’s spread from its original site in your body to other parts of your body. Generally speaking, metastatic cancer involves cancer that spreads into tissue that surrounds the original tumor or to more distant parts of your body. Carcinomatosis happens when your original cancer spreads, scattering several tumors in a widespread area of your body.

What are carcinomatosis symptoms?

Carcinomatosis symptoms vary based on where your cancer has spread. For example, peritoneal carcinomatosis, which affects the lining of your abdomen, has different symptoms from pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomas, which affect your lungs.

What are symptoms of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis?

If your cancer has spread to the lining of your brain and spinal cord, you may have the following symptoms:

• Headaches.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Feeling light-headed.
• Memory problems.
• Trouble walking.
• Incontinence.

What are symptoms of pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis?

Most people who have pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis have dyspnea — extreme difficulty breathing — that’s getting worse over a few days or a week. Other symptoms are:

• Pleuritic chest pain.
• Cough.
• Coughing or spitting up blood.
• Unintended weight loss.
• Lethargy.

What are symptoms of peritoneal carcinomatosis?

You can have peritoneal carcinomatosis without developing new symptoms. In some cases, however, peritoneal carcinomatosis can cause the following:

• Nausea.
• Diarrhea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Bloating.
• Unintended weight loss.

How do healthcare providers diagnose carcinomatosis?

If you have carcinomatosis, you’ve already been coping with cancer. That’s why healthcare providers may weigh the benefit of doing tests to confirm you have carcinomatosis against the physical discomfort you might have during them.

What tests are used to diagnose leptomeningeal carcinomatosis?

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis affects the membrane that covers your brain and spinal cord. Healthcare providers might use the following tests to diagnose leptomeningeal carcinomatosis:

• Spinal tap. To perform a spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture), your healthcare provider inserts a needle into your lower back to get a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid is the clear liquid that surrounds your spine and brain.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test produces detailed images using a magnet, radio waves and a computer.

What tests are done to diagnose pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis?

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis affects the lymphatic system in your lungs. Healthcare providers may use the following tests to diagnose this form of carcinomatosis:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test produces detailed images using a magnet, radio waves and a computer.
• Chest X-Ray. A chest X-ray uses a focused beam of radiation to look at your heart, lungs and bones.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan. CT scans use a series of X-rays and a computer to create three-dimensional images of your soft tissues and bones.
• Lung V/Q scan. This scan looks for blood clots in your lungs.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Healthcare providers inject a radioactive tracer into your body to detect early signs of cancer.
• Bronchoscopy. Healthcare providers use a thin bendable tube called a bronchoscope to look inside your airways and lungs.

How do healthcare providers diagnose peritoneal carcinomatosis?

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This test produces detailed images using a magnet, radio waves and a computer.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Healthcare providers inject a radioactive tracer into your body to detect early signs of cancer.
• Ultrasound. Ultrasounds use high-frequency soundwaves to create real-time pictures and videos of your internal organs or other tissues.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan. CT scans use a series of X-rays and a computer to create three-dimensional images of your soft tissues and bones.

What are treatments for carcinomatosis?

In most cases, carcinomatosis is a sign you have cancer that’s spread throughout your body and can’t be cured. Your healthcare provider will keep that in mind when recommending treatments. In some cases, your healthcare provider might recommend palliative care or talk to you about hospice care.

What is palliative care?

Palliative care helps people being treated for serious illnesses, providing support to ease symptoms and treatment side effects.

What are other treatments for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis?

Healthcare providers may recommend the following treatments for leptomeningeal carcinomatosis:

• Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses strong beams of energy to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing.
• Systemic chemotherapy to treat your original tumor.
• Targeted therapy. This treatment involves medications that target specific changes in cancer cells.
• Immunotherapy. This is used if HER-2 breast cancer was your original cancer.

What are treatments for pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis?

Pulmonary lymphangitic carcinomatosis treatment typically combines treatments that target your original cancer and treatments to keep you comfortable such as antibiotics, oxygen and steroids. Other treatments might include:

• Chemotherapy. This treatment uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
• Hormone therapy. Hormone therapy treats cancer by blocking the production of certain hormones, blocking cancer cell hormone receptors or substituting lab-made hormones that the cancer cells can’t affect.

What are treatments for peritoneal carcinomatosis?

Healthcare providers might recommend hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for people whose peritoneal carcinomatosis is diagnosed early. To use HIPEC, providers circulate heated chemotherapy drugs through your abdominal cavity.

How can I prevent carcinomatosis?

If you have a form of carcinomatosis, it means you have cancer that’s spread from its original location to another and blanketing the area with new tumors. You can’t prevent carcinomatosis. But you can take steps to catch it early so it can be treated. If you’re being treated for cancer, talk to your healthcare provider about carcinomatosis symptoms so you’ll know what to look for.

Can carcinomatosis be cured?

Unfortunately, there aren’t cures for carcinomatosis conditions. On average, people with carcinomatosis are alive a few months to three years after diagnosis.

What are my options if there’s no cure for my cancer?

There are still things you can do to have quality of life if your cancer can’t be cured:

• Ask your healthcare provider what your carcinomatosis means to your overall health.
• Ask about treatment options. While you and your healthcare provider may decide against aggressive treatment, there may be treatments to ease your symptoms and control your cancer.
• Ask your healthcare provider about programs that will help you with the final steps in your cancer journey.

How do I take care of myself?

While there isn’t a cure for carcinomatosis, there are things you can do to maintain quality of life:

• Let your healthcare provider know if your symptoms are changing or getting worse. They can recommend ways to manage your symptoms so they don’t get in the way of your daily life.
• Let your loved ones know what you need. Many times, your family and friends want to help but don’t know what’s appropriate or what you’d like. You might appreciate having someone run errands, make family meals or simply spend time with you.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

For many people, carcinomatosis marks the final steps in their cancer journey. For others, being diagnosed with carcinomatosis is their first notice they’ve had cancer. Unfortunately, being diagnosed with carcinomatosis means your cancer can’t be cured. There is, however, hope for living well with cancer for as long as you’re able. There’re treatments to ease your symptoms — and, in some cases — give you a bit more time. If you have carcinomatosis, your healthcare provider can talk to you about treatments and programs to help you make the most of your health and your time.