[Expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in hemangioma and vascular malformations].

Objective: This study was to compare the proliferative activity of endothelial cells of various types of hemangiomas and vascular malformations in different phases.

Methods: Forty-one specimens of hemangiomas or vascular malformations from biopsy or operative resection were stained with immunohistochemical method for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). The proliferative activity of endothelial cells was expressed by labeling index (LI).

Results: PCNA was positive in all of proliferating strawberry, composite hemangiomas and some of cavernous hemangiomas in children. PCNA was negative in all of adult involuted hemangiomas and some of cavernous hemangiomas in children. There were no statistically significant differences in labeling indices of PCNA between various types of proliferating hemangiomas in children while there were statistically significant differences between child proliferating hemangiomas and involuted hemangiomas in children or all of adult hemangiomas.

Conclusion: The results may be helpful to answer some bewildering questions about hemangiomas and provide a basis for new classification.