Mondor's disease and breast cancer

Abstract

Mondor's disease or thrombophlebitis of the subcutaneous veins of the chest region is an uncommon condition and is rarely associated with breast cancer. From January 1980 to June 1990, 63 cases of Mondor's disease were diagnosed (57 women and 6 men). In 31 patients, no apparent cause was determined (primary disease), whereas in 32 cases, the disease was secondary because the etiopathogenesis could be discerned. The identified potential causes were three cases of myentasis (all in men), eight cases of accidental local trauma (seven in women), seven cases of iatrogenic origin (three surgical breast biopsies, one skin biopsy, one needle biopsy, one mastectomy, and one reconstruction operation), six cases of inflammatory process, and eight cases associated with breast cancer (all females). Three of the tumors were less than 1 cm in diameter. The authors performed conservative surgery in four patients and demolitive in the other four. In this series, the incidence of breast cancer in association with Mondor's disease was the highest yet reported (12.7%). It was concluded that Mondor's disease may at times be caused by breast carcinoma. This association is by no means exceptional and implies that mammography should always be performed for Mondor's disease, even when the results of a physical examination are negative.

Complications in Breast Surgery

“…Mondor's disease, or thrombosis of the thoracoepigastric vein, can occur spontaneously, after any breast procedure such as lumpectomy, or even after percutaneous needle biopsy [3][4][5][6][7]. Although Mondor's disease is not an established risk factor in breast cancer, there are case reports of patients presenting with this condition at the time of the breast cancer diagnosis [4].…”

“…Although Mondor's disease is not an established risk factor in breast cancer, there are case reports of patients presenting with this condition at the time of the breast cancer diagnosis [4]. This condition typically presents as a palpable, sometimes tender cord running vertically from the mid-lower hemisphere of the breast toward the abdominal wall.…”

Syndrome de la corde axillaire après chirurgie ganglionnaire dans un contexte de mélanome : 5 cas

“…Devant un tableau clinique classique, aucun examen complémentaire n'est nécessaire pour confirmer le diagnostic positif. Après cette forme originelle thoracique [2], d'autres localisations ont été décrites : au niveau de la verge [9], du cou [10] et du creux axillaire. Récemment, cette dernière a été décrite comme une entité à part entière, apparentée à la maladie de Mondor mais renommée « syndrome de la corde axillaire » [11].…”

Complications in Breast Surgery

“…The American Society of Anesthesiology recommends upper extremity positioning such that maximal angle at the shoulder is 90 , with neutral forearm position, and use of padded armboards [2]. Mondor's disease, or thrombosis of the thoracoepigastric vein, can occur spontaneously, after any breast procedure such as lumpectomy, or even after percutaneous needle biopsy [3][4][5][6][7]. Although Mondor's disease is not an established risk factor in breast cancer, there are case reports of patients presenting with this condition at the time of the breast cancer diagnosis [4].…”

“…Mondor's disease, or thrombosis of the thoracoepigastric vein, can occur spontaneously, after any breast procedure such as lumpectomy, or even after percutaneous needle biopsy [3][4][5][6][7]. Although Mondor's disease is not an established risk factor in breast cancer, there are case reports of patients presenting with this condition at the time of the breast cancer diagnosis [4]. This condition typically presents as a palpable, sometimes tender cord running vertically from the mid-lower hemisphere of the breast toward the abdominal wall.…”