Edited by
STANLEY P. L. LEONG

2007

Sentinel lymph node procedures have opened a window of opportunity for the study of tumor metastasis. In about 80% of metastasis, there is an orderly pattern of progression through the lymphatic system network, whereas 20% of the time, systemic metastasis occurs directly presumably bypassing the lymphatic system. During the past several decades, substantial progress has been achieved in understanding the anatomical, functional, cellular, and molecular aspects of the integrated lymphovascular system and relationships to the process of metastasis.