title: Immunoexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in periapical granulomas, radicular cysts, and residual radicular cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to assess and compare the immunoexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in periapical granulomas (PGs), radicular cysts (RCs), and residual radicular cysts (RRCs), relating it to the angiogenic index and the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty PGs, 20 RCs, and 10 RRCs were evaluated by immunohistochemistry using anti-VEGF antibody. Angiogenic index was determined by microvessel count (MVC) using anti-von Willebrand factor antibody.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PGs and RCs showed higher expression of VEGF than the RRCs. Lesions presenting few inflammatory infiltrate revealed the lowest immunoexpression of VEGF (P < .05). Irrespective of the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate, most of the RCs and RRCs showed moderate to strong epithelial expression of VEGF. Lesions showing dense inflammatory infiltrate presented higher MVC indices (P < .05). VEGF expression and MVC did not reveal a significant correlation (P > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF is present in periapical inflammatory lesions but at a lower level in RRCs. The expression of this proangiogenic factor is closely related to the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate in these lesions.
authors.affiliation: Oral Pathology Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil. hebel.galvao@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Cassiano Francisco Weege
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Nonaka
authors.forename: Alexandre Pinto
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: George João Ferreira do
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Roseana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Almeida Freitas
authors.forename: Lélia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Batista de Souza
authors.forename: Hébel Cavalcanti
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Galvão