A Study Of Total Liver CT Perfusion Imaging Of The Rabbit VX2Liver Tumor Model And The Correlations Of The Perfusion Parameters With UAs And MVA

PURPOSE:To obtain total liver CT perfusion imaging in a rabbit VX2liver tumor model and analysis the relationship between perfusion parameters and UAs and MVA. This study aimed to provide some basic infromation of the tumoral angiogenesis condition and the intrinsic corrlation to the perfusion imaging, and may also provide as a reference to the better use of VX2liver tumor model to the relative research of hepatic tumor in future.METHODS:Forty two rabbits with VX2tumor inoculated in the liver (experimental group) and5rabbits without liver tumor inoculated (sham-operated control group) underwent total liver CT perfusion imaging2weeks after the operation. Perfusion parameters including BF、 BV、ALP、PVP、HPI of the tumor rim and the surrounding liver tissue were obtained in the liver of both groups. Immediately after the examination, the rabbits were killed to obtain the tumor specimens, and conventional pathology and immunohistochemistric anlysis of UAs and MVA were obtained. Main statistical analysises include:Paired t-test was used to determine the differences of perfusion parameters between the vital tumor rim and the surrounding liver tissue. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to determin the correlations of UAs and MVA to the perfusion parameters. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlationship between the pathological findings and correlative imaging manifestion with emphsis on the necrosis in tumor and peripheral ring enhancement.RESULTS:There was significant difference between the CT perfusion parameters at the tumor rim and the surrounding tissue, but there was no significant difference between the perfusion parameters at the surrounding liver tissues of the experimental group and the liver tissues of the sham-operated group. There was positive correlation between UAs and MVA. UAs and MVA had positive correlation with BF, ALP and BV at the tumor rim. UAs and MVA had negative correlation with PVP. HPI had positive correlation with UAs, but no significant correlation with MVA. Necrosis fraction had negative correlation with ALP and HPI, but no significant correlation with BV and PVP. Thus the total liver volumal CT perfusion imaging can effectively assess tumor angiogenesis and necrosis.CONCLUSION:Ring enhancement is the typical enhancement mode of rabbit liver VX2tumor after14days of tumor incubulation, which may be associated with that the peripheral portion of the tumor is rich of neoangiogenesis, while the central portion is mainly necrosis; Total liver CT perfusion can provide quantitative information to the assessment of the artery and portal vein perfusion of the rabbit liver VX2tumor. Rabbit liver VX2tumor perfusion parameters of BF, BV, ALP, and HPI are positively correlated to the expression of UAs, and BF, BV, and ALP are positively correlated to the expression of MVA.