Major anatomical routes for the spread of infection and malignant disease Flashcards
Means of spread
Direct spread (bone and fascia) Haematogenous spread (vascular system) Lymphatic spread Transcoelomic and trans-CSF spread Perineural spread
How does sarcoma spread?
blood
How does breast cancer spread?
Lymphatics
How does head/neck cancer spread
Nerves
How does prostate cancer spread
Batson’s plexus to spine
What is descending necrotising mediastinitis?
Neck infection moved through retropharyngeal space to cause mediastinal infection
3 structures in carotid space
Carotid artery, IJV, vagus nerve
What is the lamina papyracea?
Thin bone surrounding ethmoid cells
What is legmen tympani?
Thin temporal bone
How does the tegmen tympani facilitate infection spread
Thin so allows extension into brain (temporal abscess)
haematogenous spread of tumours
- Tumours promote growth of new blood/lymphatic vessels - tumour can get nutrients and also spread
- Tumour embolus will ‘swim’ around blood until it gets lodged - e.g. in peripheries of brain
CN affected by cavernous sinus thrombosis
3,4,5a,5b and 6
Danger triangle of face
upper lip up to bridge of the nose is the danger triangle - the facial vein has no valves and blood may flow either inferiorly or superiorly → infection of the paranasal sinuses may extend into intracranial venous system and produce thrombophlebitis of cavernous sinus
How does breast cancer move?
spread by direct contact or via lymphatics or blood stream
Why do you get peau d’orange appearance with breast cancer?
Blocks LNs so no drainage
