Lymphatic metastases from the peritoneal cavity are increased in the postinflammatory state.

Cell suspensions of chemically induced tumors (rhabdomyosarcoma) were transplanted into the peritoneal cavities of Lewis rats. In normal animals, the greater omentum was the main site of tumor growth, and transdiaphragmatic metastases to regional lymph nodes in the mediastinum were few and small. In animals during the healing phase of a chemical peritonitis, the greater omentum was fibrotic, shrunken, and inactivated. The loss of the scavenging function of the omentum was associated with wide dissemination of the tumor in the peritoneal cavity and increased access of the tumor to the lymphatic stomata on the peritoneal surface of the diaphragm. Number and size of transdiaphragmatic metastases in draining lymph nodes were greatly increased in this postinflammatory state.