ABSTRACT
Objective To study the morphological characteristics of tumor microvasculature in primary hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC). Methods From Jan. 1998 to Feb. 2002, 32 cases, consisting of 26 male and 6 female, with age ranging from 28 to 76 years [mean (50.56?10.52) years], underwent preoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) without theraputic embolization in General Hospital of PLA and 307 hospital of PLA. The diameters of the tumors measured 2～23 (8.05?6.17) cm. The tumor microvessel density (MVD), type and diameter of the tumor microvessels, width of tumor trabeculae, and the size of the malignancy were measured and statistically analyzed. The outcome of the each patient was also statistically analysed. Results The size of tumor tended to be positivly correlated with the pattern of microvasculature of the tumor. The size of the tumor was negatively correlated with MVD, white the tumor size and the diameter of tumor related vessels were positively correlated with the diarneter of tumor trabeculae. Hoverer, the size of the tumor was not correlated with the diameter of vascular trabeculae. Conclusions The density, configuration and the distribution of tumor microvessels were not even in HCC. The features of tumor microvasculature were distinctive at different phases of tumor growth, having definite rules in the development.
