Lymphatic vessel density in primary melanomas predicts sentinel lymph node status and risk of metastasis

• Published in: Histopathology 2012-10, Vol.61 (4), p.702-710
• Main Authors: Shayan, Ramin, Karnezis, Tara, Murali, Rajmohan, Wilmott, James S, Ashton, Mark W, Taylor, G Ian, Thompson, John F, Hersey, Peter, Achen, Marc G, Scolyer, Richard A, Stacker, Steven A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; diagnosis; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Lymphangiogenesis - physiology; lymphatic metastasis; Lymphatic Metastasis - pathology; Lymphatic Vessels - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; melanoma; Melanoma - pathology; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness - pathology; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; prognosis; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; sentinel node; Skin Neoplasms - pathology; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions
• ISSN: 0309-0167; 1365-2559
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2012.04310.x

Shayan R, Karnezis T, Murali R, Wilmott J S, Ashton M W, Taylor G I, Thompson J F, Hersey P, Achen M G, Scolyer R A & Stacker S A 
(2012) Histopathology 61, 702–710 Lymphatic vessel density in primary melanomas predicts sentinel lymph node status and risk of metastasis Aims:  Important prognostic factors in patients with cutaneous melanoma include primary tumour thickness/depth of invasion, ulceration and mitotic rate, and the presence of tumour cells in regional lymph nodes. More recently, features of stromal components, such as blood and lymphatic vessel density, have been suggested as additional indicators of metastatic potential. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between tumour lymphatic vessels and lymph node metastasis. Methods and results:  Metastasizing (n = 11) and non‐metastasizing (n = 11) primary melanoma samples matched for depth/thickness, mitotic rate and ulceration were examined for lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in the primary tumour, using an antibody to podoplanin. Significant differences were found between LVD (vessels/unit area) in the peripheral (5.73 ± 0.67) versus central (1.72 ± 0.42) regions of the metastasizing tumour group (P