title: An analysis of microvessel density in salivary gland tumours: a single centre study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Microvessel density (MVD) can be used for determining neoplastic neovascularisation. Tumour angiogenesis correlates with prognosis of cancers in many organs. The aims of this study were to evaluate MVD as demonstrated by CD31 and CD105 in salivary gland tumours (SGTs), and to correlate the MVD results with clinicopathological characteristics of the tumours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a retrospective cohort study design, we enrolled SGTs patients at the Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, over the 22-year period. The predictor variables included demographic, anatomic and histopathological parameters. The outcome measure was average CD31-MVD and CD105-MVD counted by the "hot spot" method. Descriptive, uni- and bivariate statistics were computed, and P <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study sample consisted of 43 subjects with a mean age of 39.6 ± 17.8 years (range, 9-82), including 26 females (60.5%), diagnosed with SGTs. In this cohort, 58.1% of the cases were benign, and 83.7% were minor SGTs. There was a significant correlation between CD31-MVD and CD105-MVD (r = 0.8, P < 0.001), but mean CD31-MVD and CD105-MVD were 17.7 ± 9.3 and 12.8 ± 7.4, respectively (P = 0.009). Age, gender and tumour site were not individually associated with significant differences between CD31-MVD and CD105-MVD. Tumours with myoepithelial cells had lower MVD than those without myoepithelial cells (P = 0.04 for CD31; P = 0.03 for CD105). Only CD105-MVD showed statistical difference between benign and malignant SGTs (P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that MVD in SGTs can be demonstrated by CD31 and CD105. Despite a strong correlation, CD31-MVD is always higher than CD105-MVD and cannot differentiate between benign and malignant SGTs. The presence of myoepithelial cells within SGTs affects the MVD analysis using either CD31 or CD105, while age, gender and tumour location do not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Kittipong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dhanuthai
authors.forename: Kraisorn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sappayatosok
authors.forename: Somchai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yodsanga
authors.forename: Somsri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rojanawatsirivej
authors.forename: Niels Christian
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Pausch
authors.forename: Poramate
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pitak-Arnnop
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000098:blood supply*; D055815:Young Adult