Lymphangitic Carcinomatosis: Clinical and Morphological Manifestations and Possible Molecular Mechanisms of Development

Lymphangitic carcinomatosis is one of the most severe forms of tumor progression. It is characterized by the massive spread of tumor emboli, composed of cells with reduced adhesive capacity to the endothelium, through the lymphatic vessels. Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta­Analyses) guidelines, 394 scientific papers were screened. Of those, 292 English-language publications met the criteria for analysis. A total of 39 articles (including three in Russian) relevant to the topic of this review were included.

Due to the highly diverse localization of lymphangitic carcinomatosis and its polymorphic symptoms, diagnosis remains challenging and is associated with the risk of erroneous and often delayed decision-making. Data on lymphangitic carcinomatosis are still scarce, and its developmental mechanisms are not fully understood. However, systematizing knowledge about its possible clinical and morphological manifestations and studying the molecular and genetic mechanisms of its development could serve as a basis for identifying key prognostic markers and developing targeted therapies for this currently prognostically unfavorable form of tumor progression.

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