Cerebral schistosomiasis is discriminated from gliomas by immunohistochemistry

The present study is to investigate the differences in Ki-67 expression and microvessel density (MVD) among cerebral schistosomiasis, low grade gliomas and high grade gliomas. Expressions of Ki-67 and CD34 in surgical specimens from 12 cases of cerebral schistosomiasis lesions, 12 cases of low grade gliomas and 12 cases of high grade glioma were detected by streptavidin-perosidase immunohistochemistry staining. The expression level of Ki-67 was divided into four grades according to the expression rate of positive cells. Ki-67 positive expression rates were calculated and compared by rank sum test. MVD was measured by CD34 antibody labeling. Positive expression rates of Ki-67 were 66.67%, 41.7% and 100% in cerebral schistosomiasis, low grade glioma and high grade gliomas, respectively. Expression level of Ki-67 in cerebral schistosomiasis was not significantly different from that of low grade gliomas, but was significantly lower than that of high grade gliomas. MVD values were significantly different among the three groups. Cerebral schistosomiasis had the lowest MVD, while high grade gliomas had the highest MVD. Ki-67 expression in cerebral schistosomiasis indicates that the lesion has strong cell proliferation. Ki67 expression can be used to distinguish cerebral schistosomiasis from high grade gliomas, but not from low grade gliomas. MVD value of cerebral schistosomiasis foci is significantly lower than low or high grade gliomas, and can be used as an important clinical indicator for the diagnosis of cerebral schistosomiasis.