BACKGROUND: Scalp/neck melanomas have a poor prognosis, possibly because of a rich vascular supply that prompts tumor cells' dissemination. METHODS: We compared the accuracy of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with morphology for the identification of lymphovascular invasion in 156 scalp/neck melanomas. We then analyzed the association of vessel invasion and density with pathological features and survival. RESULTS: IHC-detected lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) and blood vessel invasion (BVI) were identified in 34.6% and 13.5% of cases, respectively. IHC increased the LVI/BVI detection compared to morphology (40.4% vs 16.6%; p < .001). The degree of peritumoral and intratumoral blood vessel density (BVD) was greater than lymphatic vessel density (LVD). Ulceration was the only factor independently associated with intratumoral (p = .029) and peritumoral (p = .047) BVD. Tumor thickness was the only independent predictor of survival (p = .002). CONCLUSION: IHC allows accurate assessment of lymphovascular invasion in scalp/neck melanomas. In these tumors, we observed a high incidence of BVI, which deserves further investigations
Lymphatic and blood vasculature in primary cutaneous melanomas of the scalp and neck / S., Pasquali; M. C., Montesco; C., Ginanneschi; G., Baroni; C., Miracco; C., Urso; F., Mele; A. R., Lombardi; P., Quaglino; L., Cattaneo; S., Staibano; G., Botti; P., Visca; M., Zannoni; Soda, Giuseppe; B., Corti; L., Pilloni; L., Anselmi; A., Lissia; M., Vannucchi; C., Manieli; D., Massi. - In: HEAD & NECK. - ISSN 1043-3074. - STAMPA. - 14:(2014). [10.1002/hed.23801]
Lymphatic and blood vasculature in primary cutaneous melanomas of the scalp and neck
SODA, Giuseppe;
2014
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Scalp/neck melanomas have a poor prognosis, possibly because of a rich vascular supply that prompts tumor cells' dissemination. METHODS: We compared the accuracy of immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with morphology for the identification of lymphovascular invasion in 156 scalp/neck melanomas. We then analyzed the association of vessel invasion and density with pathological features and survival. RESULTS: IHC-detected lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) and blood vessel invasion (BVI) were identified in 34.6% and 13.5% of cases, respectively. IHC increased the LVI/BVI detection compared to morphology (40.4% vs 16.6%; p < .001). The degree of peritumoral and intratumoral blood vessel density (BVD) was greater than lymphatic vessel density (LVD). Ulceration was the only factor independently associated with intratumoral (p = .029) and peritumoral (p = .047) BVD. Tumor thickness was the only independent predictor of survival (p = .002). CONCLUSION: IHC allows accurate assessment of lymphovascular invasion in scalp/neck melanomas. In these tumors, we observed a high incidence of BVI, which deserves further investigationsI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
