title: Histomorphometric comparative study of blood vessels and their pattern in follicular cyst, odontogenic keratocyst, and ameloblastoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed at assessment and histomorphometric analysis of intratumoral and peritumoral (cystic) blood vessels in odontogenic lesions and their pattern on their clinical behavior by immunohistochemistry and morphometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, 45 paraffin blocks of ameloblastoma, odontogenic keratocyst, and follicular cyst were selected and stained immunohistochemically for CD34. In each slide, images of 3 microscopic fields with the highest microvessel density in intratumoral and peritumoral (cystic) areas were captured at 40× magnification with attached camera system. Inner vascular diameter (IVD) and outer vascular diameter (OVD), cross-sectional area (CSA), and the wall thickness (WT) of the vessels were measured with Motic Plus 2 software. The vascular pattern in odontogenic lesions was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outer vascular diameter, IVD, and CSA of the vessels in peritumoral (cystic) areas were greater in ameloblastoma than keratocyst (P = 0.001) and follicular cyst (P < 0.001). However, WT of the blood vessels did not show any significant statistical difference among the 3 odontogenic lesions (P = 0.05). The differences in OVD, IVD (P = 0.8), CSA (P = 0.6), and WT (P = 0.4) of the blood vessels in intratumoral (cystic) areas were not statistically significant. The blood vessel pattern was circumferential in ameloblastoma, and it was directional in keratocyst and follicular cyst.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Morphometric specifications of blood vessels (IVD, OVD, CSA) and their pattern in peritumoral (cystic) areas may influence the aggressive clinical behavior of ameloblastoma in comparison with keratocyst and follicular cyst.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Babol, Iran. sf_seify@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Safora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seifi
authors.forename: Farideh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Feizi
authors.forename: Thoraya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Khafri
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aram
mesh_terms: D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005497:Follicular Cyst / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009807:Odontogenic Cysts / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology*