1Department of Radiology and the Institute of Radiation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine. 2Halla Hospital. 3Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine.
Published online: January 1, 2001.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate radiologic features about hepatic VX2 carcinoma induced by two methods, direct intra-parenchymal innoculation vs transportal approach, focus on enhancement pattern and comparison of each imag-ing modalities and innoculation methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: VX2 carcinomas were induced in 11 rabbit livers by direct inoculation (n = 7) or infusion into mesenteric vein (n = 4). After two weeks, spiral CT, digital subtraction angiography (DSA), intravenous contrast-enhanced power Doppler sonography, intraarterial CO 2 sonography were done. The enhancement pat-terns were assessed independently and correlated with histopathologic features. RESULTS: With direct intraparenchymal innoculation, localized hepatic VX2 tumors were developed. Considering all imaging modalities, six of 7 tumors appeared peripheral hypervascularity, one hypovascularity. On patholog-ic and radiologic correlations, the enhancing portions of 4 tumors corresponded to viable tumor and pseudo-cap-sule portion, the other enhancing portions of 2 tumors corresponded to sinusoidal vascular spaces. With the transportal approaches, diffuse hepatic tumors were developed. Spiral CT and DSA revealed these tumors as marked peripheral hypervascular tumors with multiple A-P shunts. On pathologic findings, multiple thin walled sinusoidal spaces were seen at periphery of nodule. Spiral CT was superior to the other modalities in evaluation of enhancement characteristics. CONCLUSION: VX2 carcinomas in rabbit livers showed different radiologic and histopathologic features according to the innoculation methods.