Evaluation of Angiogenesis of Hepatic VX2 Carcinoma and Abscess in the Rabbit Liver with Perfusion Computed Tomography

Jeong, Yong Yeon; Kang, Heoung Keun; Yoon, Woong; Seo, Jeong Jin; Chung, Tae Woong; Jeong, Gwang Woo; Kim, Hyung Joong; Eun, Sung Jong; Nam, Jong Hee

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perfusion characteristics of VX2 carcinoma and abscess in liver of animal model, and to evaluate the usefulness of perfusion Computed Tomography(CT) in differential diagnosis of VX2 carcinoma and abscess. Ten rabbits (VX2 carcinoma 5; abscess 5) weighing 2.5 to 3.5kg (average, 3.1kg) were examined for this study. During the period of 4 to 14 days after implanting VX2 carcinoma, ultrasonography followed by CT was performed to detect the VX2 carcinoma. Liver abscess was induced by injection of E-coli in five rabbits. After 3 to 5 days implanting VX2 carcinoma, CT was performed after ultrasonography. The total of 4 perfusion CT images were obtained every 1sec for 60 seconds 4 simultaneous sections with cine mode. One radiologist measured the same size of the region of interest (ROI) in the same location of rabbit liver. On the basis of the time-density curves of the VX2 tumor and normal liver were obtained to evaluate the semi-quantitative perfusion parameters such as blood volume, mean transit time (MTT), blood flow, and time-to-peak enhancement. The microvessel densities (MVD) of VX2 tumor and abscess were correlated with perfusion CT findings. There was significant difference of blood flow between VX2 carcinoma and abscess (120.5: 96.4/100 g/min) (p<0.05). However, blood volume (35.2: 28.5 ml/100g), and MTT (14.5: 17.7 sec), time-to-peak (33.2: 29.1 sec) were not different. There was significant difference of MVD between VX2 carcinoma and abscess in histopatholgy (p<0.05).There was significant difference of blood flow between VX2 carcinoma and abscess in perfusion CT. And also histopathology confirmed that angiogenesis of VX2 carcinoma was higher than that of abscess. Therefore, blood flow in perfusion CT is helpful to differentiate perfusion parameter between VX2 carcinoma and abscess.