Final answer:
To determine whether cancer has metastasized, clinicians should rely on clinical evidence and diagnostic tools rather than assumptions based on multiple malignancies. Metastasis is a confirmable process where cancer cells travel through the bloodstream to form new tumors in distant organs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to the process by which cancer cells spread from one location to another, known as metastasis. It is important for coders and medical professionals not to assume metastasis solely based on the fact that there are malignancies in multiple sites. A definitive diagnosis of metastases requires clinical evidence, imaging studies, or pathological confirmation that cancer cells have traveled from the primary tumor through the bloodstream to distant organs. In the context of cancer, malignant tumors are cancerous growths capable of metastasis, which is the movement of tumor cells to new areas of the body where they may form additional tumors.
When tumor cells are shed into the bloodstream, they possess the ability to establish new tumors in various tissues. However, the presence of multiple malignancies does not automatically mean these are metastases; they could also represent synchronous primary tumors or other phenomena. Therefore, clinical judgment should be exercised when determining if cancer has metastasized.