AIM: To study the relationship between vasculogenic mimicry and human pterygium and to evaluate the clinical significance.

METHODS: Twenty samples of normal conjunctiva and the aggressive and quiescent period of pterygium of both 50 cases were studied under the light microscope by HE stain, Periodic acid-Schiff stain(PAS), immunohistochemistry staining with CD34, VEGF and immunohistochemistry combined with PAS stain.

RESULTS: The expression of CD34 and VEGF in pterygium was significantly higher than those of normal conjunctiva specimens(All P<0.05). The expression of CD34 and VEGF in aggressive cases was apparently higher than that in quiescent cases(All P<0.05). Vasculogenic mimicry was identified in 38 of 50 aggressivcases and 11 of 50 quiescent cases by PAS stain, with a statistically significant difference(P<0.05). Bivariate analysis showed that vasculogenic mimicry were positively correlated with aggressive cases(Spearman's correlation coefficient r=0.540>0.5, P=0.000).

CONCLIUSION: Neovascularization exists in pterygium and vascular mimicry is one of the blood supply pathways of the pterygium and play an very important role in the development of pterygium.