ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the utility of renal CT scanning and to histologicallycorrelate renal damage induced by renal arterial infusion of 0.2 ml/kg of doxorubicin-lipiodol emulsion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Renal CT scans of 20 rabbit kidneys were obtained 15 days after transcatheter arterialchemoembolization and were classified into four grades, as follows : Grade 0 - no fleck, Grade 1 - one to threenodular flecks ; Grade 2 - four or more nodular flecks, or one semilunar fleck ; and Grade 3 - two or moresemilunar flecks. The percentage of histological section occupied by lesion was determined using squared paper,and compared with the grades determined on the basis of CT. RESULTS: The histologic findings were interstitialinflammatory cell infiltration, intratubular lipiodol droplets, dystrophic calcification, and cellular necrosis.The mean sizes of grade 0, 1, 2 and 3 histological lesions were 2.2%(n=5), 4.5%(n=4), 21.9%(n=7), and 24%(n=4),respectively. Grades 0 and 1 accounted for nine cases(3.2%), while grades 2 and 3 accounted for 11(22.6%) ; thisdifference was statistically significant(p<0.01). CONCLUSION: CT findings showing nodular or semilunar flecks 15days after infusion into the renal artery of doxorubicin-lipiodol emulsion correlate with the size of the damagedkidney, as seen on histological specimens.