Significance of the vertebral venous (batson's) plexus in metastatic spread in colorectal carcinoma

Abstract

Recently studies of bone metastases in colorectal carcinoma by radionuclide scanning are reviewed. A frequency of 33--61% has been reported using the more recently available bone scanning tests. The commonly accepted frequency of bone metastases from colorectal carcinoma by x-ray or anatomic studies is 5%. This much higher frequency currently being reported must still be established by additional studies. However, if the much high frequency currently being reported is firm, they suggest a much greater importance of the Vertebral Venous Plexus in tumor spread than heretofore suspected for colorectal carcinoma.

Subglottic Metastatic Rectal Adenocarcinoma: A Specialist Multidisciplinary Airway Team Approach for Optimized Voice and Airway Outcome

“…The vertebral venous plexus has been specifically implicated in retrograde metastatic spread of colorectal carcinoma [6]. Lymphatic metastases spread via the thoracic duct, left supraclavicular lymph nodes, and subglottic lymph nodes [5].…”

Renal Cell Carcinoma: Delayed Metachronous Metastases to Parotid and Cerebellum

“…Alternatively, spread could have occurred through the Batson paraspinal venous plexus, with tumor emboli from the primary site. 34,35 Of note, RCC is known to invade the renal vein or the vena cava directly and this is taken into account for staging purposes. 3 Secondary tumors of the parotid gland occur infrequently and usually originate from melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma tumors of the head and neck.…”

“…Among the most commonly metastasizing tumors to the head and neck are neoplasms originating from the urogenital tract, prostate, ovary, and kidneys. 15,[33][34][35][36][37] Within the head and neck, metastases of RCC to the parotid are even less common, with approximately 28 reported cases thus far in the literature. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][19][20][21][22][38][39][40] At rare occasions, metastatic disease has been the initial presenting symptom and the reason the primary tumor was identified.…”

Long-Term Survival After Resection of Metastases in the Lungs and Larynx Originating From Sigmoid Colon Cancer: Report of a Case

“…The route for hematogenous spread via the systemic circulation is the inferior vena cava, right heart, lungs, left heart, aorta, external carotid artery, upper thyroid artery, and upper laryngeal artery 16) . The vertebral venous plexus has also been implicated in retrograde metastatic spread of colorectal cancer 17) . The high incidence of lung metastasis in the patients with laryngeal metastasis strongly suggests a metastatic route from the lungs to the larynx.…”