The widely used screening mammography has contributed significantly to the increased frequency of detection and diagnosis of intraductal breast carcinoma. As the biological behaviour of in situ carcinoma is largely unpredictable any proposed prognostic marker must be properly evaluated.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether microinvasion induces neoangiogenesis or the latter phenomenon is related to the malignant phenotype regardless of invasion. Our material comprise 62 intraductal carcinoma with microinvasion in 21 cases.

Using an antibody against factor VIII the vascular density was assessed. Statistical analysis of our data showed connection of neoangiogenessis only with the histological subtype and nuclear grading of the tumor cells whereas, microinvasion was unrelated to vascular density.

Key words: Neovascularization, intraductal carcinoma of the breast, immunohistochemistry, factor VIII.

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