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Updated: May 10, 2026
Isolation of Human Lymphatic Endothelial Cells by Multi-parameter Fluorescence-activated Cell Sorting
Published on: May 1, 2015
Inconsistent immunohistochemical expression of lymphatic and blood endothelial cell markers in cutaneous
Jag Bhawan1, Claudine Silva, Wirach Matt Taungjaruwinai
1Dermatopathology Section, Department of Dermatology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. jbhawan@bu.edu
Purpose:
We sought to describe expression of the immunohistochemical markers, CD31, D2-40 and LYVE-1 (lymphatic vessel hyaluronan receptor-1), that may assist in differentiating cutaneous lymphangioma and cutaneous hemangioma.
Methods:
Immunohistochemical staining of lymphangioma and hemangioma specimens was completed with CD31, D2-40 and LYVE-1 antibodies.
Results:
Thirty-three examples of lymphangioma and 13 examples of hemangioma were evaluated. CD31 was positive in 91% of lymphangioma and 100% of hemangioma (sensitivity 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.75-0.98; specificity 0, 95% confidence interval 0-0.28). D2-40 was positive in 54% of lymphangioma and 23% in hemangioma (sensitivity 0.50 95% confidence interval 0.32-0.68; specificity 0.50 95% confidence interval 0.28-0.72). LYVE-1 was positive in 6% in lymphangioma and 15% hemangioma (sensitivity 0.06 95% confidence interval 0.01-0.22, specificity 0.85 95% confidence interval 0.54-0.97).
Conclusions:
Due to the similar embryonic origins, it is unlikely that a single marker may accurately differentiate the lymphangioma from hemangioma. A combination of immunohistochemical stains such CD31, D2-40 and LYVE-1 testing may potentially increase the diagnostic accuracy in differentiating lymphangioma from hemangioma. However, our findings suggest that there is no advantage in performing immunohistochemical staining to differentiate lymphangioma from hemangioma.
