| [ Summary ] |
In a normal large intestine wall, an artery, the vasa recta, penetrates the serosa and the muscularis propria, forming the submucosal vessel network. The micro vessels which branch from this vessel network pass through the wall and form the upper line of the muscularis mucosae. The vessel network normally consists of a regular pentagonal or hexagonal shape in the mucosal surface. Among the elements which indicate micro vessel structures are the diameter of blood vessels and examinations which may be observed with a magnifying endoscopic images, combined with the use of Narrow Band Imaging (NBI). For examination of normal parts of the large intestine, hyperplastic polyps, intramucosal carcinoma and carcinoma invasion into the submucosal layer, the diameter of blood vessels was measured using a micro meter in the optical microscope. Consequently, the following conclusions were obtained. The diameter of blood vessels increased in hyperplastic polyps and neoplasms. In relation to carcinoma, vessel size was proportional to the depth of invasion, or the degree of progress, and the diameter of blood vessels was large. The polypoid type was compared with other gross types, and diameter of associated blood vessels was large. Future research will focus on the arrangement of blood vessels which can be observed not only with NBI but also tubular structures and pit patterns. |