Liver Cancer
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 1, 2004; 10(1): 67-72
Published online Jan 1, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i1.67
Single-level dynamic spiral CT of hepatocellular carcinoma: Correlation between imaging features and density of tumor microvessels
Wei-Xia Chen, Peng-Qiu Min, Bin Song, Bong-Liang Xiao, Yan Liu, Ying-Hui Ge
Wei-Xia Chen, Peng-Qiu Min, Bin Song, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Bong-Liang Xiao, Department of Toxicology and Pathology, School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Yan Liu, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, now working in Rijin Hospital, Shanghai, China
Ying-Hui Ge, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, now working in Henan Province Hospital, Henan Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Wei-Xia Chen, MD, Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. wxchen25@sohu.com
Telephone: +86-28-85422595 Fax: +86-28-85582944
Received: June 21, 2003
Revised: July 20, 2003
Accepted: July 30, 2003
Published online: January 1, 2004
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the correlation of enhancement features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) revealed by single-level dynamic spiral CT scanning (DSCT) with tumor microvessel density (MVD), and to determine the validity of DSCT in assessing in vivo tumor angiogenic activity of HCC.

METHODS: Twenty six HCC patients were diagnosed histopathologically. DSCT was performed for all patients according to standard scanning protocol. Time-density curves were generated, relevant curve parameters were measured, and gross enhancement morphology was analyzed. Operation was performed to remove HCC lesions 1 to 2 weeks following CT scan. Histopathological slides were carefully prepared for the standard F8RA immunohistochemical staining and tumor microvessel counting. Enhancement imaging features of HCC lesions were correlatively studied with tumor MVD and its intra-tumor distribution characteristics.

RESULTS: On DSCT images of HCC lesions, three patterns of time-density curve and three types of gross enhancement morphology were recognized. Histomorphologically, the distribution of positively stained tumor endothelial cells within tumor was categorized into 3 types. Curve parameters such as peak enhancement value and contrast enhancement ratio were significantly correlated with tumor tissue MVD (r = 0.508 and r = 0.423, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively). Both the pattern of time-density curve and the gross enhancement morphology of HCC lesions were also correlated with tumor MVD, and reflected the distributive features of tumor microvessels within HCC lesions. Correlation between the likelihood of intrahepatic metastasis of HCC lesions with densely enhanced pseudocapsules and rich pseudocapsular tumor MVD was found.

CONCLUSION: Enhancement imaging features of HCC lesions on DSCT scanning are correlated with tumor MVD, and reflect the intra-tumor distribution characteristics of tumor microvessels. DSCT is valuable in assessing the angiogenic activity and tumor neovascularity of HCC patients in vivo.

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