Objective: To investigate microvessel density in adenomyosis compared to the endometrium in patients with adenomyosis and in normal controls.
Design: Uterine paraffin-embedded histologic specimens were immunostained for CD34. The area with the highest microvessel density in adenomyosis and in the endometrium was evaluated. All microvessels in a specific field of view (x200 magnification) were counted.
Setting: The Department of Gynecological Endocrinology and the Institute of Clinical Pathology, Department of Gynecopathology, in an university hospital.
Patient(s): Specimens of 53 patients with adenomyosis, who had undergone hysterectomy. Endometrial specimens of 17 women without uterine pathology were investigated as normal controls.
Main outcome measure(s): Microvessel density in adenomyosis and in the endometrium.
Result(s): The mean microvessel density was significantly higher in adenomyosis than in the endometrium of the same patients (33.5 +/- 14.6 vs. 19.5 +/- 12.5 microvessels/field; P<.001 sign test). No significant difference between the endometrium of patients and of normal controls was observed (P=.805).
Conclusion(s): Adenomyosis exhibits angiogenic properties. However, the endometrium of patients with adenomyosis is not more prone to express angiogenic activity compared to the endometrium of normal controls.