Grafting and Traumatic Dissemination of Carcinoma in the Course of Operations for Malignant Disease

Ontogenous grafting of carcinoma may occur spontaneously especially at points of contact, as about the labia, vulva, and in the gastro-intestinal tract. In the large intestine, at least, grafting may occur not only at points where the mucosa of the opposite wall of the intestine comes in contact with the carcinoma, but has been known to occur by the process of seeding, in which malignant cells from the tumor have become detached and grafted on the surface of the mucous membrane, sometimes at a considerable distance from and usually below the original growth. The grafting may take place above the growth as well, the cells being carried to proximal points by antiperistalsis.