The Possible Role of Dermal Lymphatics in the Dissemination of Breast C@ncer

Abstract

The authors studied the role of the dilated cutaneous lymphatic capillaries, which function
as a subsidiary draining system in advanced breast cancer in 7 patients. They selected the
material by using the Patent blue dye test, then administered P32 isotope preoperatively for
autoradiographic detection of tumour cell emboli in the mammary skin, excised by mastectomy.
In half of the cases the histological follow-up of autoradiographically positive skin-samples
showed the existence of cancer-cell nests in the minute lymphatics. They call attention to the
fact, that the skin-area in question will not be removed totally by mastectomy, so that tumour
cells which have become lodged in its dilated lymphatics may serve as a starting-point for local
renewal and late dissemination. In support of their statement they bring some of their own
observations.