Density of mast-cells and Microvessels Density in head and neck cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background and Aim: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common skin cancer. Mast cells may play a role in tumor progression and metastasis by increasing angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of mast cells by increasing angiogenesis in invasion of head and neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 4 microns slices gotten from 30 paraffined blocks of head & neck well differentiated CSCC stained for evaluation of small blood vessels density using CD34 immunomarker and evaluation of mast cell density with toluidine blue. The number of small vessels and mast cells were counted in ten microscopic fields in the areas with the highest density. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 21 and Mann Whitney, Kruskal-wallis and Pearson's correlation coefficient tests. Significance level was considered as P <0.05. Results: There was no statistically significant relationship between the density of mast cells and the density of small blood vessels and whether the increase in mast cells causes the increase of small blood vessels or not. (P = 0.142) and correlation coefficient (r = 0.274). Conclusion: According to the results obtained in this study, based on the lack of correlation between the density of small blood vessels and the number of mast cells in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, this trend does not seem to play a role in the pathogenesis of head & neck cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.