The vascular pattern of basal cell tumors: light microscopy and scanning electron microscopic study on vascular corrosion casts.

Light microscopy of hematoxylin-eosin stained tissue sections and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of vascular corrosion casts were used to study the blood vascular system of human basal cell tumors. Concerning the gross angioarchitecture there is a very close correlation between the histological appearance and the findings obtained from vascular corrosion casts, when evaluated in a SEM. The tumor cell beds are enveloped by basket-like capillary plexus. The tumors are traversed over long distances by superficially running, teleangiectatic, but flattened capillaries. These compressed vessels are squeezed between tumor cell cords and epidermis. In vascular corrosion casts of human basal cell tumors the vascular system exhibits three different features. Blind-ending vascular casts; Four different causes for blind-ending cast structures are pointed out and discussed. Incomplete filling of the vascular system; compression of tumor vessels; new proliferating capillary sprouts; broken cast endings. Variations in vessel caliber and extravasation of the injection resin. Most of the variation in vessel calibers are thought to be caused by dilation of the weakened endothelial walls, but some of them presumably represent new projecting vascular swellings. Circumscribed leakage of the injected resin could be attributed to regions of advanced connective tissue degeneration and endothelial lysis. Flattened cast structures; The addition of tissues during tumor growth results in an increase of tissue pressure. Thus many tumor vessels get displaced, compressed, and flattened and vascular occlusions will occur. However, it must be stressed that much caution is needed in assessing the nature of the vascular cast structures of basal cell tumors.