Color Doppler flow imaging and CD34, VEGF immunohistochemical study of the solid thyroid nodules

Abstract

Objective To evaluate angiogenesis of the benign and malignant solid thyroid nodules with color Doppler ultrasound and immunohistochemistry staining. Methods Fifty-six solid thyroid nodules in 55 patients (28 papillary thyroid cancer, 23 goiter, 4 adenoma, 1 Hashimoto' s disease) were observed before surgery with color Doppler ultrasound. Pathological specimens of paraffin-embedded were immunohistochemically stained with CD34 and VEGF antibody. Results There were significant differences between the benign and malignant thyroid nodules in vascular morphology and regional rich blood flow. The irregular or less irregular vessels were found in 75 % of the malignant nodules. Regional rich blood flow or suspicious regional rich blood flow were found in 64. 3% of malignant nodules. The regular vessels were found in 89. 3% of the benign nodules, non-regional rich blood flow was found in 71.4% of the benign nodules. The number of CD34 in malignant lesions [(37.31 ± 11.55)/HP] was significantly higher than benign lesions [(29. 02 ± 8.32)/HP, P = 0.04]. There was a significantly difference of VEGF expression between the benign and malignant nodules which was higher in malignant nodules than in benign nodules(P ＜ 0.01). Conclusions Compared with the benign nodules, the vessles in malignant thyroid nodules were irregular,the distribution of vessles was asymmetry and angiogenesis was active. Key words: Ultrasonography,Doppler, color; Thyroid diseases