RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility of dynamic magnetic resonance diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in rabbit models with implanted VX2 hepatic tumor grafts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MRI and DTI images were obtained from 16 rabbit models with implanted VX2 hepatic tumor grafts (14, 18, 22, and 26 days after tumor implantation, respectively) and 4 normal rabbits. The average diffusion coefficient (ADC) and exponential ADC (eADC) were estimated and compared against pathological findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ADC values increased after tumor implantation but then decreased in the rabbit models, whereas eADC exhibited a pattern of reverse changes. These changes significantly differed from those in the control group. Coagulation necrosis and fibrous hyperplasia showed obvious increase as found by pathological examination.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dynamic MR DTI quantitative analysis of rabbit models of implanted VX2 hepatic tumor can partially describe the growth behaviors of implanted liver cancer.</p>