The relationship between lymphangiogenesis and cervical lymph node micrometastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma / 中华口腔医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To probe the relationship between lymphangiogenesis and cervical lymph node micrometastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The microlymphatic vessel density was detected with enzyme histo-chemical method in 47 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma and 10 cases of normal oral mucosa; 355 lymphnodes were detected with immunohistochemically using monoantibody AE3.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean MLVD was 14.04 +/- 6.92 in tumor group, or 5.48 +/- 2.62 in normal group. The difference was (P < 0.001). The percentage of tumor with expression CK was 48.9%. The mean MLVD was 16.94 +/- 5.43 in CK positive group, or 11.26 +/- 5.00 in CK negative group, There was difference significant (P < 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Lymphangiogenesis plays a key role in cervical lymph node micrometastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.</p>