Detection of vascular invasion in colorectal cancer by using Weigert's stain for elastic fibers

Abstract

Objective: Venous invasion is stage independent prognostic risk factor for distant metastasis in colorectal cancer. Elastic stain is among the various ancillary techniques that were described to increase the sensitivity of detection of vascular invasion. This combined prospective and retrospective study is aimed to assess the sensitivity of elastic tissue stain to detect venous invasion in comparison to the routine H & E stained sections, and to correlate intramural and extramural venous invasion with the Dukes staging system. Method: Serial sections from 42 cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed between the years 2007 and 2009 were examined by using H & E and Weigert's stain. A comparison was drawn between the two stains in regard to venous invasion; the results were correlated with Dukes stage for colorectal cancer. Results: The mean age of sampled patients was 50 years. Venous invasion was detected in 16 (38%) cases by the use of H & E stain, which was increased to 35 (83%) cases by the use of Weigert's stain for elastic tissue with a clear statistical significance (P