Numerical density of vessels in axillary lymph node structures in breast cancer patients was studied by light microscopy with antibodies to CD34. The correlation between the stage of breast cancer and vascularization of lymph nodes was analyzed. The development of breast cancer was followed by rapid and significant increase in the number of blood vessel in axillary lymph nodes in general and in all their specific areas, especially in the paracortex and medullary substance. Strong or very strong positive correlation between the stage of tumor process and parameters of vascularization was observed in various areas of the axillary lymph nodes. No significant differences in node vascularization were observed between women without breast cancer and women with stage I breast cancer; the differences were found only starting from stage II. Considerable vascularization of lymph nodes can be a symptom of malignant tumor growth in the area of lymph collection. The duration of the tumor process and the size of the tumor can be indirectly evaluated by the increase in vessel number in lymph nodes.
Keywords: angiogenesis; axillary lymph nodes; breast cancer; vascularization.