Metastasis historical perspective

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Metastatic tumors are very common in the late stages of cancer. The spread of metastases may occur via the blood or the lymphatics or through both routes. The most common places for the metastases to occur are the adrenals, liver, brain, and the bones. There is also a propensity for certain tumors to seed in particular organs. This was first discussed as the “seed and soil” theory by Stephen Paget over a century ago in 1889.

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