Mass effect due to peritumoral brain edema (PTBE) is one of the most common imaging characteristics encountered in glial tumors. The severity and variety of the PTBE may increase the difficulties of cancer treatment. However, its pathogenesis is not well documented. Recently, more attention has been paid to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the polypeptides mediating tumor angiogenesis and microvascular permeability. The purpose of this study was to investigate PTBE index in astrocytomas obtained from MRI and its correlation with angiogenesis biomarkers, VEGF and microvessel density. Our results demonstrated that PTBE in human astrocytomas correlated with both VEGF expression and vessel density. The relationship of PTBE with angiogenesis biomarkers allows a better understanding its molecular mechanisms, and may have implications for clinical management of brain edema associated with human astrocytomas.
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