title: Vascular endothelial growth factor expression in pituitary adenomas.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to be a mediator of angiogenesis and vascular permeability. A cystic component and hemorrhage are often found in pituitary adenomas. In the present study we assess the VEGF expression based on immunohistochemical examinations in 48 pituitary adenomas. All the adenomas showed some VEGF immunoreactivity mainly in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. Of the 48 adenoma-cases, 16 cases had a strong VEGF immunoreactivity, 26 cases had a moderate one, and 6 cases had a weak one. On the MR images, a cystic component was found in 16 cases (33.3%), and a hemorrhage was found in 18 cases (37.5%). The VEGF immunoreactivity had a significant relationship with the cystic component but neither the hemorrhage, size, recurrence, or HE classification. These findings suggest that VEGF might play a potential role in the pathogenesis of cystic formation in pituitary adenomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, National Defense Medical College, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nawashiro
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Otani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ooigawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tokumaru
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohnuki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsuzuki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katoh
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shima
mesh_terms: D000236:Adenoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003560:Cysts / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A