Abstract
Background and Purpose:This study aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of CD31 and podoplanin in order to examine angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, respectively in common malignant tumors of salivary glands. Materials and Methods:Forty formalin-fixed, paraffinated blocks (20 adenoid cystic carcinoma and 20 mucoepidermoid carcinoma blocks) were selected from the medical archives of Amir A’lam Hospital of Tehran, Iran. Sections from the blocks were stained by CD31 and D2-40 markers via immunohistochemistry. Clinical and demographic information was extracted from the patients’ records. Findings:There was a significant difference between tumors in terms of intratumoral microvessel density (MVD) (P< 0.001), total MVD (P< 0.001), and intratumoral lymphatic vessel density (LVD) (P= 0.011). In mucoepidermoid carcinoma, intratumoral MVD and LVD were greater than peritumoral MVD and LVD (P= 0.001 and P< 0.001, respectively). In mucoepidermoid carcinoma, there was no relationship between histological grade with MVD (total, intratumoral or peritumoral) or LVD (total, intratumoral or peritumoral) (P> 0.05). A similar finding was reported with respect to the histopathological grade of adenoid cystic carcinoma (P> 0.05). Conclusion:The higher level of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in mucoepidermoid carcinoma, specifically at the center of tumor, compared to adenoid cystic carcinoma, may be attributed to differences in the clinical behaviors and metastasis of tumors. Moreover, considering the high LVD at the center of tumor in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and infrequency of metastasis to regional lymph nodes in adenoid cystic carcinoma, it can play a significant role in metastasis to regional lymph nodes.
Highlights
Salivary gland tumors constitute an important part of oral and maxillofacial pathologies
According to the results of the present study, total microvessel density (MVD) in mucoepidermoid carcinoma was greater than total MVD in adenoid cystic carcinoma
In a study by Luukka et al MVD in mucoepidermoid carcinoma was significantly different from MVD in adenoid cystic carcinoma (Luukkaa et al, 2009)
Summary
Salivary gland tumors constitute an important part of oral and maxillofacial pathologies. The annual incidence of salivary gland tumors ranges from 1 to 6.5 per 10,000 people worldwide These tumors account for 2% to 4% of all head and neck neoplasms around the world (Neville et al, 2016). Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common salivary gland malignancy It commonly occurs in a wide age range from the second to seventh decade of life. It is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor in children, it is rarely reported in the first decade of life. Some of these tumors are associated with a history of head and neck radiation. Considering the high LVD at the center of tumor in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and infrequency of metastasis to regional lymph nodes in adenoid cystic carcinoma, it can play a significant role in metastasis to regional lymph nodes
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