The liver metastasis ranking starts with colon, then breast, then lungs. Which organ is listed third?

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Multiple Choice

The liver metastasis ranking starts with colon, then breast, then lungs. Which organ is listed third?

This question tests how commonly different primary cancers metastasize to the liver and why their frequencies follow a particular order. The liver is a frequent metastatic site because tumor cells reach it through the bloodstream. Colorectal cancer is the most common source of liver metastases because blood from the GI tract drains into the portal vein directly to the liver, so colon cancer cells readily seed hepatic tissue. Breast cancer is the next most frequent source, spreading hematogenously through the systemic circulation to the liver. Lung cancers also metastasize to the liver via the bloodstream, but they are less frequent than colorectal and breast sources, placing them third in this ranking. Therefore, the organ listed third is the lungs.

This question tests how commonly different primary cancers metastasize to the liver and why their frequencies follow a particular order. The liver is a frequent metastatic site because tumor cells reach it through the bloodstream.

Colorectal cancer is the most common source of liver metastases because blood from the GI tract drains into the portal vein directly to the liver, so colon cancer cells readily seed hepatic tissue. Breast cancer is the next most frequent source, spreading hematogenously through the systemic circulation to the liver. Lung cancers also metastasize to the liver via the bloodstream, but they are less frequent than colorectal and breast sources, placing them third in this ranking.

Therefore, the organ listed third is the lungs.

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