THE CORRELATION OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR WITH PERITUMORAL VASOGENIC CEREBRAL EDEMA IN MENINGIOMAS

Objective To evaluate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and peritumoral vasogenic cerebral edema. Methods Sixty one patients with supratentorial meningioma were selected for resection of the tumor. All the specimens were evaluated pathologically and classified in accordance with Mac Carty criteria. The presence and degree of peritumoral brain edema were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. The expression of VEGF was determined immunohistochemically. Results Of 61 patients studied, 29 exhibited no edema or doubtful and 32 exhibited various degrees of peritumoral edema . The positive expression rate of VEGF in patients with edema was significantly higher than that of no edema or doubtful cases( χ 2=6.62, P 0.01).The expression rate of VEGF in patients with meningioma was 65.6%, in which, malignant meningioma accounted for 80.0%, meningotheliomatous meningioma, 75.0%, and fibroblastic meningioma, 37.5%, respectively. A comparison of the former two and the latter one showed significant difference( χ 2=7.57,P0.01;P =0.006). Conclusion VEGF may predispose peritumoral vasogenic cerebral edema in meningioma. The positive expression of VEGF may be used as an indicator for pathological classifications.