Tumor cells in venous blood draining mammary carcinomas
R. C. Golinger, R. M. Gregorio and E. R. Fisher
Tumor cells were identified in mammary vein blood in ten of 38 (26.6%)
patients during total mastectomy with axillary dissection performed as the
primary therapy for breast carcinoma (pathological stages I and II). This
finding was analyzed with respect to 35 histological characteristics of the
primary tumors. The presence of blood-borne tumor cells was inversely
related to perineural space invasion, whereas there was no apparent
relationship with the remaining 34 characteristics. The significance of
blood-borne tumor cells remains unknown.
