title: Histomorphometric analysis of vascularity in normal buccal mucosa, leukoplakia, and squamous cell carcinoma of buccal mucosa.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Angiogenesis, the process that leads to the formation of new blood vessels, continues to be a topic of major scientific interest. There is an increasing hope that new discoveries will lead to newer therapies that target angiogenesis as a reliable option for disease therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess the role of vascularity, correlation of morphometric aspects of vascularity, investigate its usefulness in the histopathological classification and prognosis in normal buccal mucosa (NBM), leukoplakia and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of buccal mucosa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample consisted of 15 cases of NBM, 30 cases of leukoplakia, and 30 cases of SCC of buccal mucosa. The 75 archival samples were stained by hemotoxylin and eosin (H and E) and Masson's trichrome (MT). The stained sections were analyzed using image analysis software.
  
  
  METHODS
  Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 12.0 statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The combined mean vessel density (MVD) of all the cases in H and E was 0.1112 and for MT it was 0.2150. The difference of MVD between H and E and MT was statistically significant. The mean MVD in SCC (0.3455) for MT was higher than NBM (0.1314) and leukoplakia (0.1263). The mean MVD increased from stage III (0.3563) to IV (0.5312). It also increased from NBM (0.1314) to hyperkeratosis (0.1505) and decreased from grade I (0.3556) to II (0.2795) of oral SCC (OSCC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MVD can be used as an adjunct with other diagnostic modalities. Further studies are needed to standardize baseline levels for different sites and age groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Rajarajeshwari Dental College, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Ravi Kumar V
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Pujari
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, PM Nadagouda Memorial Dental College and Hospital, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Shrinivas S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Vanaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, PM Nadagouda Memorial Dental College and Hospital, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Rudrayya S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Puranik
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Nair Dental College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Rajiv S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Kamineni Institute of Dental Sciences, Narketpally, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Naveen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Motupalli
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, Krishnadevaraya Dental College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Sangamesh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halawar
keywords: Leukoplakia; mean vessel density; neovascularization; squamous cell carcinoma