The epulis vascularity. A morphometric study.

Background: A computerised morphometric analysis of some vascularisation aspects of epulides is presented. The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between morphometric aspects and histological classification of epulides and to investigate its usefulness for the histopathologic diagnosis.
Methods: The study was carried out on epulides from 72 patients (30 males, 42 females, age-range 16-60). Epulides were fixed in alcohol, paraffin embedded, and stained with haematoxyilin eosin, thereafter epulides were histopathologically classified as granulomatous epulides, fibrous epulides and giant cell epulides. Images of histological samples were then digitised, and by an image analysis system some morphometric vessels characteristics were evaluated: percent image area occupied by vessels, vessels number, mean vessels area and standard deviation of vessels area. Finally, the correlation between morphometric data and the histological classification of epulides was evaluated.
Results: The statistic evaluation of morphometric data allowed to classify epulides in six groups characterised by a various degree of vascularisation, these groups showed a good correlation with histopathological classification.
Conclusions: The morphometric analysis of vessels is a powerful aid for the histopathologic diagnosis and for a better knowledge of the etiopathogenetic factors of epulides.