Progesterone receptors identified in vascular malformations of the head and neck.
OBJECTIVE
To identify hormone receptors within vascular malformations (arteriovenous malformations [AVMs], venous malformations [VMs], and lymphatic malformations [LMs]) of the head and neck.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical staining for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) was performed on archival vascular malformation tissue collected from both pediatric and adult patients.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center from 2006 to 2008.


METHODS
Twelve AVM, 10 VM, and eight LM specimens were stained for both ER and PR. Ten breast carcinoma specimens were used as controls, with the carcinoma cells serving as positive controls, and the endothelium and smooth muscle cells of the blood vessels serving as negative controls. Five normal supraglottic mucosal samples served as head and neck controls. The Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Ten of the 12 (83%) AVM specimens stained diffusely positive for PR within the nuclei of the endothelium and smooth muscle of the malformed vessels (P < 0.0001). Five of the 10 (50%) VM specimens stained positive for PR (2 [20%] focal, 3 [30%] diffuse) within the nuclei of the endothelium and smooth muscle of the malformed vessels (P = 0.0325). Four of the eight (50%) LM specimens stained focally positive for PR within the nuclei of the endothelium of the malformed vessels (P = 0.0229). None of the vascular malformation specimens stained positive for ER.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that PR, but not ER, is expressed in AVMs, VMs, and LMs of the head and neck.
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205-7199, USA.
Landon J
LJ
Duyka
Chun Y
CY
Fan
Jean M
JM
Coviello-Malle
Lisa
L
Buckmiller
James Y
JY
Suen
D000328:Adult; D001165:Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006257:Head / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis*; D054079:Vascular Malformations / Q000378:metabolism*; D014680:Veins / Q000002:abnormalities
D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone