Morphometric analysis using automated image analysis of CD34-positive vessels in salivary gland acinic cell carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

In computer-assisted analysis of acinic cell cancer (ACC) morphological characteristics of CD34 immunoreactivity were detected. Bigger vessel size, vessel irregularity, and lower intensity of CD34-positive vessel staining may indicate unfavorable prognosis.

OBJECTIVES

Salivary gland cancer (SGC) is a morphologically diverse group of malignancies, the most common histological types being mucoepidermoid, adenoid cystic and ACC, which has the most favorable prognosis of the three. The aim of this research was to study the applicability of automated image analysis as prognostic criteria in ACC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In a nationwide study covering SGC patients in Finland during 1991-1996, 34 patients with ACC (15 males, 19 females, aged 19-95 years, mean 55 years) were included. Parameters were measured from CD34-stained samples.

RESULTS

In all, 10 385 vessels were measured, of which 9873 were from specimens from patients who were alive 5 years after treatment (n=32, group I) and 512 were from patients who died of disease (n=2, group II). The following results were found in group II versus group I: mean vessel size 469 microm vs 272 microm (p=0.024); vessel irregularity 28.3 microm vs 22.3 microm (p<0.001); CD34 staining intensity 0.555 microm vs 0.584 microm (p=0.024).