title: Increased microcirculation in subepithelial invasion of lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mucosal irregularity and hypervascularity associated with primary lung cancer in large airways are observed by bronchoscopy. The aim of this study was to evaluate microcirculation at subepithelial invasion sites of lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2001 and June 2007, 12 patients who had subepithelial invasion sites of lung cancer in the large airways (aged 52 to 74 years, 12 males) were enrolled into this study. They were 6 patients with adenocarcinoma, 4 patients with squamous cell carcinoma, and 2 patients with small cell carcinoma. We compared 12 control subjects without endobronchial abnormality (aged 51 to 83 years, 9 males and 3 females). The patients underwent conventional bronchoscopy and subsequent high magnification bronchovideoscopy with the conventional imaging and the narrow band imaging (NBI). For evaluating microcirculation of subepithelial invasion, hemoglobin index was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In high magnification view, aberrant microvessels and/or irregular mucosal thickening were observed at subepithelial invasion sites of lung cancer. Irregularly enlarged microvessels were increased and formed an aberrant microvessel network on the surface of irregular mucosa. The diameter of aberrant microvessels was significantly increased compared to normal microvessels. By switching to NBI, the aberrant microvessels were more clearly visualized. The levels of hemoglobin index were significantly higher in subepithelial invasion sites of lung cancer compared to normal mucosa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In subepithelial invasion of lung cancer, aberrant microvessels are thought to be characteristic and subepithelial microcirculation may be increased.
authors.affiliation: The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Japan. gyamada@sapmed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Gen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kitada
authors.forename: Yu-ichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Mamoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D000077192:Adenocarcinoma of Lung; D000368:Aged; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D018715:Microscopy, Video / Q000379:methods; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D055752:Small Cell Lung Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins