Corollary to the embolic theory of cancer dissemination.
The accepted embolic theory of cancer metastasis has hitherto been taught strictly in terms of discrete deposition of tumor tissue away from the primary site. However, since metastasis is a dynamic phenomenon, discrete deposits do not remain static after their formation but grow further and coalesce either with each other or even with the primary tumor. Thus, coalesced deposits are a natural sequel to discrete deposits. Accordingly, the phenomenon of coalescence deserves the status of a corollary to the main theory of embolism.
D004617:Embolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating