| Abstract: | The communication between abdominal lymphatics and the vertebral venous system in canines was observed under conditions of lymphatic obstruction. After obstructing lymphatics of the lumbar trunks, lipiodol was injected into the pedal lymphatics and visualized to enter the inferior vena cava 10 days later, and the vertebral venous system 12 days later by fluoroscopy. Radiographs of the transverse sectioned vertebrae showed that the contrast medium flowed from the para-aortic lymph nodes into the vertebral venous system and entered the vessels around the vertebrae and in the spinal canal, and the vertebral body at the ventral surface of lumbar vertebra. Histologically, the contrast medium was identified in the Haversian canal and peripheral region of the bone marrow. These results suggest that prostate cancer may metastasize the vertebral bone through the lymphatico-venous anastomosis and vertebral venous system. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
