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Published on: January 17, 2018
Microvessel density and area in pituitary microadenomas
Ewa Jasek1, Alicja Furgal-Borzych, Grzegorz J Lis
1Department of Histology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-034 Krakow, Poland. ejasek@cm-uj.krakow.pl
Endocrine Pathology
|August 26, 2009
Summary
Clinically silent pituitary microadenomas often lack vascularity or show reduced microvessel density (MVD) and area (MVA) compared to normal tissue. These vascular differences may become more pronounced in larger pituitary tumors.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Pituitary microadenomas are small tumors of the pituitary gland.
- Tumor vascularity, assessed by microvessel density (MVD) and microvessel area (MVA), is crucial for tumor growth and progression.
- The vascular characteristics of clinically silent pituitary microadenomas are not well-defined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the microvessel density (MVD) and microvessel area (MVA) in clinically silent pituitary microadenomas versus normal pituitary tissue.
- To explore potential correlations between MVD/MVA and tumor hormonal status, age, or sex.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 53 clinically silent pituitary microadenomas and adjacent normal pituitary tissue.
- Immunohistochemical staining using CD34 to identify microvessels.
- Quantification of MVD and MVA using a digital image analysis system.
Main Results:
- 40% of microadenomas were avascular.
- In the remaining microadenomas, both MVD and MVA were significantly lower than in normal pituitary tissue.
- No significant differences in MVD or MVA were observed based on hormonal status, age, or sex.
Conclusions:
- Pituitary microadenomas in their early developmental stages are either avascular or exhibit significantly reduced vascularity compared to normal pituitary tissue.
- Observed differences in vascularity in the literature might evolve with tumor growth, potentially becoming significant in larger macroadenomas.
- Tumor vascularity in microadenomas is not significantly influenced by hormonal phenotype, age, or sex.
