A 49 year old man suffering from carcinoma of prostate was x -rayed. He showed areas of sclerosis and collapse of T 10 and T11 veebrae in x-ray. The spread of this cancer to the above veebrae was through -: (A) Sacral canal, (B) Lymphatic vessels, (C) Internal veebral plexus of veins, (D) Superior rectal vein
Answer is C. Ans is 'c' i.e. Internal veebral plexus of veins Prostatic cancer spreads to the bones through blood vessels; first into Batson's periprostatic venous plexus * and then into the internal veebral plexus of veins. This metastatis is possible because of valveless communication* between the periprostatic and veebral plexus of veins.