Breast cancer has important co-morbidities including vascular disease but there has been little research undertaken on a possible link between venous disease and breast cancer. This pilot study aims to explore a possible relationship.
Methods
The venous drainage of the breasts is described and the cerebrospinal venous systems (CSVS) of six patients with treated breast cancer were assessed using duplex ultrasound to measure venous blood volume flows in the neck veins.
Results
All six patients with breast cancer showed evidence of cerebrospinal venous obstruction (CSVO). Further, all six demonstrated collateral flow in the erect position in the internal jugular vein on the same side as the diagnosed breast cancer.
Conclusion
There is an indication for a well-designed case-control study using the duplex ultrasound neck vein examination, comparing patients treated for breast cancer with healthy women.
SungHFerlayJSiegelRL, et al.Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin2021; 71(3): 209–249. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21660
2.
XuJQiuXLiY, et al.Hyperlipoproteinemia (a) is associated with breast cancer in a Han Chinese population. Medicine (Baltim)2020; 99(38): e22037. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000022037
3.
ThapaLXiaJGuoW, et al.Rosacea and its association with malignancy: systematic review. JMIR Dermatol2023; 6: e47821. DOI: 10.2196/47821
4.
MehtaLSWatsonKEBaracA, et al.American heart association cardiovascular disease in women and special populations committee of the council on clinical cardiology; council on cardiovascular and stroke nursing; and council on quality of care and outcomes research. Cardiovascular disease and breast cancer: where these entities intersect: a scientific statement from the American heart association. Circulation2018; 137(8): e30–e66. DOI: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000556
5.
ChowdhuryFAIslamMFProvaMT, et al.Association of hyperlipidemia with breast cancer in Bangladeshi women. Lipids Health Dis2021; 20(1): 52. DOI: 10.1186/s12944-021-01480-2
6.
TsaiTYChiangYYHuangYC. Cardiovascular risk and comorbidities in patients with rosacea: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Derm Venereol2020; 100(17): adv00300. DOI: 10.2340/00015555-3668
7.
ThibaultPK. Neck vein obstruction: diagnosis and the role of chronic persistent Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection. Phlebology2019; 34(6): 372–379. DOI: 10.1177/0268355518804379
8.
ThibaultPK. Cerebrospinal venous obstruction: anatomy, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic infective cerebrospinal venulitis. In: Cerebral circulation - updates on models, diagnostics and treatments of related diseases. IntechOpen, 2022. DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.102685
9.
Fernandez-ObregonAPattonDL. The role of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the etiology of acne rosacea: response to the use of oral azithromycin. Cutis2007; 79(2): 163–167, PMID: 17388221.
10.
SmolarzBNowakAZRomanowiczH. Breast cancer-epidemiology, classification, pathogenesis and treatment (review of literature). Cancers2022; 14(10): 2569. DOI: 10.3390/cancers14102569
11.
BatsonOV. The vertebral vein system. Caldwell lecture, 1956. Am J Roentgenol Radium Ther Nucl Med1957; 78(2): 195–212, PMID: 13444513.
12.
RyanMWRassekhCHChaljubG. Metastatic breast carcinoma presenting as cavernous sinus syndrome. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol1996; 105(8): 666–668. DOI: 10.1177/000348949610500815
13.
ThibaultPLewisWNiblettS. Objective duplex ultrasound evaluation of the extracranial circulation in multiple sclerosis patients undergoing venoplasty of internal jugular vein stenoses: a pilot study. Phlebology2015; 30(2): 98–104. DOI: 10.1177/0268355513515473
14.
ThibaultPAttiaJOldmeadowC. A prolonged antibiotic protocol to treat persistent Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection improves the extracranial venous circulation in multiple sclerosis. Phlebology2018; 33(6): 397–406. DOI: 10.1177/0268355517712884
15.
TobinickEVegaCP. The cerebrospinal venous system: anatomy, physiology, and clinical implications. MedGenMed2006; 8(1): 53, PMID: 16915183.
16.
EpsteinHMLindeHWCramptonAR, et al.The vertebral venous plexus as a major cerebral venous outflow tract. Anesthesiology1970; 32(4): 332–337. DOI: 10.1097/00000542-197004000-00007
17.
DoeppFSchreiberSJvon MünsterT, et al.How does the blood leave the brain? A systematic ultrasound analysis of cerebral venous drainage patterns. Neuroradiology2004; 46: 565–570.
18.
ValduezaJMvon MünsterTHoffmannO, et al.Postural dependency of the cerebral venous outflow. Lancet2000; 355: 200–201.
19.
ZamboniPMenegattiEPomidoriL, et al.Does thoracic pump influence the cerebral venous return?J Appl Physiol2012; 112(5): 904–910. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00712.2011
20.
ZamboniPSisiniFMenegattiE, et al.An ultrasound model to calculate the brain blood outflow through collateral vessels: a pilot study. BMC Neurol2013; 13: 81, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-13-81
