Microvessel and mast cell densities in malignant laryngeal neoplasm

Laryngeal neoplasm contributes to 30-40% of carcinomas of the head and neck. Mast cells are normal connective tissue residents, well represented in the respiratory tract. Experimental evidence suggests that the growth of a tumor beyond a certain size requires angiogenesis, which may also permit metastasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between mast cell density, microvascular density, histopathological type and histological grade. Our study included 38 laryngeal carcinomas as follows: adenoid cystic carcinoma (2 cases), malignant papilloma (2 cases) and squamous cell carcinoma (34 cases). The combined technique of CD 34-alcian blue safranin (ABS) was used to identify microvessel and mast cell density, which was quantified by the hot spot method. A significant correlation was found between both mast cell and microvascular density, and G1/G2 histological grade (p=0.002 and p=0.004, respectively). Squamous cell carcinoma was significantly correlated with mast cell density (p=0.003), but not with microvascular density (p=0.454).