metasynchronous
Meaning of metasynchronous: Metasynchronous describes a second finding, such as a related tumor, identified within a short interval of the first rather than at the same time.
Definition of metasynchronous
Metasynchronous describes a relationship between two related findings, most often two tumors or lesions, that are identified within a relatively short interval of each other, falling between being discovered at essentially the same time and being separated by a considerably longer interval. The term sits between synchronous, which describes findings discovered together or within a very short window, and metachronous, which describes findings separated by a longer span of time.
The term appears mainly in oncology and pathology discussions of multiple primary tumors or of a subsequent finding in relation to an original diagnosis, since this kind of timing can be relevant to how the findings are classified and interpreted. Different sources do not apply a single, universally fixed interval to define this category.
Because usage of metasynchronous varies somewhat by source and specialty, a report using the term typically also states the specific interval observed between the findings it describes.
Used in a sentence
The pathology report described two metasynchronous colonic lesions identified several months apart.
Good to know
Metasynchronous is used less consistently than synchronous or metachronous, so a report is expected to state the specific interval between findings rather than relying on the term alone to convey timing.
Word origin
Where “metasynchronous” comes from
Formed from meta- (Greek, meaning "beyond" or "after") and synchronous, from syn- ("together") and chronos ("time").