[Application values of 64-row computed tomographic angiography in diagnosing liver VX2 tumor in rabbits]

To evaluate the diagnostic values of computed tomographic angiography (CTA) for liver VX2 tumor in rabbits.

A total of 40 New Zealand white rabbits were employed by implanting tumor fragment into left liver by computed tomography (CT)-guided percutaneous puncture. And successful modeling was established in 38 rabbits. Plain and three-phase enhanced CT scan and its CTA reconstruction were performed in different stages (14, 21 and 28 days) after tumor implantation, followed by digital subtraction angiography (DSA) via femoral artery and hepatic artery. Dynamic observations of tumor growth characteristics were recorded by plain and enhanced CT and comparing CTA and DSA images. And comparisons of CTA and DSA were made for identifying the origin, course and blood supply of transplanted tumors.

(1) Multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) could dynamically monitor the growth transfer characteristics. And all tumors became strengthened obviously in arterial phase and washed out in venous and delayed phases. (2) CTA showed that the feeding artery of transplanted tumor was hepatic artery. (3) No obvious differences existed in the display of feeding artery of transplanted tumor between CTA and DSA.However CTA was superior to DSA in displaying three-dimensional structure.

Liver VX2 tumors are hypervascular in rabbits. CT enhanced scanning may dynamically monitor the growth patterns of tumors and CTA is a better method than DSA in visualizing the feeding arteries of tumors. Before and after interventions, CTA may replace DSA in evaluating liver VX2 tumors in rabbits.