Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in retinoblastoma.

Objectives: To investigate the immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and to determine its possible association with tumor differentiation status, optic nerve and/or choroidal invasion, anterior chamber invasion, vitreous seeding, and basophilic staining of the vascular walls.

Methods: A retrospective study was performed to identify the expression of VEGF in 47 of 129 consecutive patients with retinoblastoma treated at the Ocular Pathology Laboratory of the Anatomy and Pathology Institute of the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas from January 1, 2000, through December 31, 2007.

Results: A positive correlation between VEGF staining intensity and time of progression and mitotic and apoptotic indexes was observed.

Clinical pathologic study of a cohort of patients with retinoblastoma from a developing country.

Purpose: To describe the histopathologic characteristics of all retinoblastoma biopsy specimens received at one institution.

Methods: All retinoblastoma biopsy specimens received between January 2000 and December 2005 were evaluated and a total of 109 eyes from 101 patients were studied.

Results: There were 9 (8.