Contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic evaluation on blood supply of rabbit liver VX2 tumor in early stage / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) in quantitatively evaluating the evolution of the blood supply of rabbit liver VX2 tumor models in early stage. Methods Eighteen liver VX2 tumor models of rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly (each n=6). CEUS was performed on the 10th, 15th and 20th day group after establishemnt, resepectively. Time intensity curve (TIC) was plotted, the rabbits' liver tumor and surrounding normal liver tissue were resected for immuno-histochemistry and microvessel density (MVD) count. Results CEUS showed that the rabbit liver VX2 tumor present a typical malignant tumor imaging fast-in and fast-out in early stage. TIC showed that the time to peak (TTP) of hepatic tumor is shorter than that of surrounding normal liver tissue in all three groups (P＜0.01), no statistical difference of tumor's TTP was detected among three groups (P>0.05). Absolute enhanced intensity (AEI) and MVD reduced in turn of 10th, 15th and 20th day group. MVD of tumor was higher in 10thday group than surrounding normal liver tissue (P＜0.01), while was equal in 15th day group (P>0.05) and lower in 20th day group (P＜0.01). AEI of liver tumor had positive correlation with MVD (r=0.83, P＜0.05). Conclusion AEI of TIC can be used to quantitatively assess the evolution of the blood supply in rabbit liver VX2 tumor models. The blood supply in early stage of rabbit liver VX2 tumor models shows a gradual descent process from abundant blood supply to medium blood supply and then low blood supply.