OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of distribution status of maturation and morphology of the microvessel in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and analyze the correlations between the characteristics and clinicopathologic parameters.

METHODSThe microvessel in 62 cases of OSCC, 30 cases of adjacent normal tissue and 10 cases of normal oral mucosa were detected by double-labeling immunohistochemistry technique. Image analysis mucosa, the microvascular density (MVD) was higher while vessel maturation system was also used for the analysis

RESULTSCompared with adjacent normal tissues and normal oral index (VMI), vascular form factor (VFF) and vascular perimeter (VP) were lower in OSCC with significant difference (P < 0.01). The MVD was higher (P < 0.01) and VMI was lower (P < 0.05) in peritumoral site than those in intratumoral site. The MVD were correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe microvessels in OSCC were significantly different from those in normal oral tissues. The differences may contribute to the application of antiangiogenic therapy, and the peritumoral area in OSCC may become a target site of the therapy. The MVD may be hopefully used as an indicator of tumor malignancy.