Mj. Edel et al., ASSESSMENT OF VASCULARITY IN BREAST-CARCINOMA BY COMPUTER-ASSISTED VIDEO ANALYSIS (CAVA) AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH AXILLARY LYMPH-NODE STATUS, Breast cancer research and treatment, 47(1), 1998, pp. 17-27
Case-control methodology was used to evaluate the significance of vasc
ularity in small breast carcinomas with regard to the presence or abse
nce of axillary lymph node metastases. Vascularity was assessed in 32
axillary node positive primary breast tumours (LN+ve) less than 2 cm i
n size and compared with 56 control axillary node negative primary tum
ours (LN-ve), which were matched for histological type and grade and t
umour size. This study design employed computer-assisted video analysi
s (CAVA) to assess the total blood vessel perimeter (BVP), total blood
vessel area (BVA), and total blood vessel density (BVD) throughout a
tissue section that encompassed an entire cross section of the tumour
and its immediate periphery The BVA and BVD in these tumours were not
significantly different between LN+ve and LN-ve groups. The LN-ve carc
inomas had, on average, a significantly (P < 0.05) higher total BVP (3
355 mu m/mm(2)) than LN+ve tumours (2771 mu m/mm(2)). 'Hot spot' areas
were also independently assessed by two pathologists and the same are
as measured by CAVA. A strong correlation (P < 0.001) between the two
methods of assessment of BVD of the neovascular 'hot spots' was found;
however, no association with axillary lymph node metastasis was found
using either method of assessment. In conclusion, vascularity assesse
d by either blood vessel density or blood vessel size in primary invas
ive breast cancers less than 2 cm in diameter showed no association wi
th axillary lymph node metastasis; in fact a negative association was
found with total BVP of whole tumour sections and BVD in 'hot spots' u
sing CAVA. Further, this study has established a computer-assisted met
hod of quantifying vascularity in solid neoplasms and is a positive st
ep rewards a standardised approach to this diverse and methodologicall
y variable area.