Carcinoma in the prostate is not common, and is usually confined to old men. Infiltration proceeds around the base of the bladder at the same time and binds the pelvic viscera together. The pelvic lymphatics become early infected and dissemination is frequent. (See [Prostatic Hypertrophy].)
Fig. 94
Recurring carcinoma of male breast. (Original.)
Carcinoma in the salivary glands is not common; it is more frequent in the parotid region, occurring at middle life, growing rapidly, infiltrating surrounding parts, and tending to ulceration.
Carcinoma of the liver varies in its arrangement and appearance. Sometimes it appears in the form of nodules; at other times, as a more diffuse malignant infiltration by cells relatively abundant in number, so that the clinical aspects of the case conform rather to the encephaloid or medullary type.
Carcinoma of the kidney was formerly described as encephaloid, meaning thereby simply a malignant tumor of soft structure. It is probable that a large proportion of these tumors were sarcomas. Nevertheless, true carcinoma of the kidney is possible.
Carcinoma of the ovary may originate as such, or be the result of a transformation from an [ovarian cystoma] (see above). No better illustration can be offered of the infectivity of cancer cells (be the secret of this infectivity what it may) than the rapid dissemination of cancer throughout the peritoneal cavity, which sometimes follows the removal of an apparently non-malignant tumor which is undergoing this change.
On the other hand, in the testicle such tumors are common—more so than sarcomas. It is likely that many of them arise from the paradidymis.
Carcinoma of the stomach is a frequent disease. It involves the tubular glands, especially in the pyloric region, and conforms to them in type. After involving the mucosa it spreads to the entire coats of the stomach and infiltrates adjacent structures, while the mesenteric lymphatics are usually early and notably involved. Were it possible to recognize this involvement early in the course of the disease diagnosis of pyloric cancer and operative interference would be much more common and hopeful. Secondary involvement is generally in the adjoining viscera, but may be seen at a distance. Miliary carcinosis has been noted after pyloric cancer. This form usually occurs between the fortieth and sixtieth years of life, the duration of the disease not being long.