An Experimental Study of the Microangioarchitecture in Metastatic Lymph Node of Oral Cancer
Radiological and Pathological Considerations
1994 Volume 43 Issue 3 Pages 386-400
Details
1994 Volume 43 Issue 3 Pages 386-400
Using tongue carcinoma experimentally produced by VX2 carcinoma cell injection, the microangioarchitecture was radiographically and histopathologically examined in cervical lymph nodes with metastatic carcinoma (CLNM). The results are summarized as follows:
1) In normal controls, the cervical lymph node (CLN) was supplied by one or two feeding arteries, arising from either common carotid, external carotid or occipital artery, which penetrated the hilus ofthe lymph node. Angiogram failed to depict the CLN, while microangiogram successfully revealed that the feeding artery ramified, after entering the hilus, to form several larger branches and then small branches distributed in dendriform fashion.
2) The metastasis became evident five days after the inoculation. First it appeared in the marginal sinus and by day 11 spread further into the medullary sinus. The presumptive weight of metastaticareas were 0.01mg on the average at one to five days, 3.28 mg between six and ten days, and 134.68mg after eleven days.
3) Angiogram of CLNM demonstrated a tumor stain of inhomogeneous vascular shadow when metastatic lesions reached to the deep cortex. In microangiogram, basket-like and/or irregular net-like meandering vascular structures surrounded the tumor tissue when it reached to the deep cortex of the involved lymph node. These vessels correspond to the common designation of peripheral vascularization with penetrating vessels.
4) Histologies during the early stages of a lymph node metastasis showed paracortical hyperplasia and dendriform proliferation of post capillary venules, presumably representing immunologic response. As the tumor increased in size, the host vessels were either incorporated or displaced with various morphological changes of capillaries including neovascularization. Tumor emboli, thrombi and tumor cord formation were present.
5) These results were considered to provide some supportive evidence for the assumption that the irregularity of angioarchitecture in CLNM influences effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
