Morphology of the microvascular bed in primary human carcinomas of lung. Part I: Three--dimensional pattern of microvascular network.

Three-dimensional patterns of the microvascular network of four main types of human lung carcinomas (squamous cell carcinoma, oat cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma) have been described. Investigation has been conducted in 18 autopsy cases by x-ray microangiography, and in 52 autopsy and surgical cases by modified benzidine-nitroprusside method for colouring the erythrocyte column in blood vessel. Specimens for the investigation were collected from standardized places of the tumor margin. Eight essential spatial structures of which the carcinomas' microvascular bed is built have been distinguished. Some characteristic features of microvascular network of highly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas, adenocarcinomas and oat cell carcinoma have been described. It has been concluded also that large cell carcinomas, poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas as well as adenocarcinomas do not produce any characteristic and repeated pattern of microvascular bed. One of the main elements of the neoplasm structure influencing the growth rate of the tumor is its peripherial vascular bed. It determines the access of chemotherapeutics, oxygen and components participating in the immunological response also. All of those factors are significant elements while considering the curability.