What does lymphovascular invasion (LVI) refer to?

Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) specifically refers to the presence of cancer cells within both lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. This concept is crucial in oncology as it provides important prognostic information regarding tumor behavior and the potential for metastasis.

When tumor cells invade lymphatic spaces, they have the ability to spread to regional lymph nodes, which can influence staging and treatment decisions. Similarly, invasion into blood vessels indicates a higher likelihood of distant metastasis, as cancer cells can enter the bloodstream and propagate to other sites in the body. Therefore, recognizing and documenting LVI is vital for understanding the invasiveness of a tumor and its potential clinical implications.

LVI is distinctly characterized by the dual invasion of both types of vessels, which is why the other options, focusing solely on lymphatic spaces or blood vessels individually, do not capture the full meaning of lymphovascular invasion. Moreover, the invasion of surrounding tissues describes a different aspect of tumor invasion that does not specifically address the vascular components involved in LVI.