Abstract

Increasing microvessel density correlates with adverse prognosis in many tumors. The aim of this study was to quantify angiogenesis in a range of endometrial carcinomas, by measuring microvessel density in the stroma, and to explore any relationship with known prognostic features. Sections from 60 hysterectomy specimens were stained with Factor VIII related antigen, and the microvessel count per mm² of stroma was determined for each case. Carcinomas arising in an atrophic or inactive endometrium had a significantly higher stromal vascular density than those arising in a hyperplastic or proliferative endometrium. There was no significant association between stromal vascular density, and age, histologic grade, tumor type, presence of lymphovascular space permeation, or depth of myometrial invasion. We conclude that higher stromal vascularity is a feature of the more aggressive subtype endometrial carcinomas arising in an atrophic endometrium but does not correlate with any other prognostic features.