Lymphovascular invasion is an important prognostic marker in the assessment of bladder cancer, including both cystectomy and transurethral resection of the bladder specimens, and should routinely be reported upon in the pathological report.
Strict criteria must be utilized in establishing a diagnosis of lymphovascular invasion in urothelial carcinoma to distinguish it from peritumoral stromal retraction, a common finding that often mimics a vascular space. The use of immunohistochemistry (CD31, CD34, D2-40) for the diagnosis of intravascular invasion in urothelial carcinoma should be used only in selected histologically equivocal cases for confirmation. Routine use of immunohistochemistry for endothelium as a screening test in all cases cannot be recommended.
Written by:
Mazzucchelli R, Cheng L, Lopez-Beltran A, Scarpelli M, Montironi R. Are you the author?
Section of Pathological Anatomy, Polytechnic University of the Marche Region, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Italy.
Reference: Anal Quant Cytol Histol. 2012 Aug;34(4):173-9.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23016463
UroToday.com Bladder Cancer Section
