[The vascular pattern in solid and cystic basal cell tumors (author's transl)].

In addition to other criteria, the growth pattern, macroscopic form, and histologic examination of a tumor are heavily influenced by the tumor's blood supply. Rapid size increases of basal cell carcinomas in certain of our patients has led us to examine the capillary network of such tumors. Known histologic patterns were summarized, and the tumor vascular patterns evaluated by scanning electron microscopy of corrosion preparations. For this, an artery leading to the tumor was cannulated, and a thin synthetic resin ("Mercox" liquid) injected. After precipitation, the preparation was macerated in aqueous sodium hydroxide. The vascular changes encountered could thus be illustrated in three-dimensional form. In addition to changes specific in the tumors (i.e., caliber fluctuations, cyst formation at vessel ends, and degeneration forms), peculiar formations could be found in various sites, suggesting that capillary neogenesis was taking place within the tumors.