Oxygen saturation level in different CAIX expression groups.

<p>CAIX-negative group (n = 21): 68.67% (41.5%-92.05%); CAIX-positive group (n = 8); 72.61% (35.01%-83.36%). Mann-Whitney <i>U</i>-test, p value = 0.77</p

Correlation between histological angiogenic profile in malignant cases (n = 39).

<p>^⌘ Mann-Whitney U-test, P value = 0.029</p><p>Correlation between histological angiogenic profile in malignant cases (n = 39).</p

Oxygen saturation level of analyzed ROIs.

<p><b>(A)</b> Oxygen saturation level in 28 lesions and the subcutaneous counterpart vessels. (Wilcoxon test, p value<0.001,❊❊❊). <b>(B)</b> Oxygen saturation level in 22 lesions and the counterpart contralateral normal breast ROIs (Wilcoxon test, p value = 0.001❊❊). Box plots present the median and 1^st and 3^rd quartiles.</p

Histological assessment of angiogenesis.

<p><b>(A)</b> A representative histological section with HE, CD31 and CAIX staining (scale bar = 5 mm). Magnified CD31-stained slide shows multiple microvessels (red arrowheads; 100x magnification; scale bar = 100 μm) <b>(B)</b> Map of total vessel perimeter of CD31-positive structures in each block (0.84 x 0.84 mm). Lesional TVP (μm) to lesional area (mm²) ratio was calculated by selecting the blocks that corresponded to the lesion area on the HE slide.</p

Correlation between lesional TVP /area and calculated oxygen saturation level.

<p>Pearson’s correlation coefficient between lesional TVP /area and calculated oxygen saturation level <b>(A)</b> in cases after PST (n = 9; R² = 0.04234, p value = 0.053), and <b>(B)</b> in cases without PST (n = 20; R² = 0.0392, p value = 0.405).</p

Patient characteristics.

<p>^⌘Kruskal-Wallis test</p><p>Patient characteristics.</p