Abstract：Objective: To discuss the imaging technology and characteristic of diffusion-weighted imaging in rabbit models of hepatic VX2 tumors. Methods: Twenty-five New Zealand rabbits, 24 were implanted with VX2 tumor by tissue block or cell suspension into liver. After routine scans were performed on 1.5T MR scanner, using EPI-SE series and SENSE technology, b value of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600s/mm2 were used respectively on DWI scanning. Choose the ROI of the VX2 tumor tissue and normal liver tissue and then measure ADC values respectively for statistical analysis. Results: Twenty-four rabbit models of hepatic VX2 tumors were implanted successfully and 28 lesions were detected. In DWI map, the lesions’ signal higher than that of the surrounding liver parenchyma, on the contrary, the lesions’ ADC value was lower than that of the surrounding liver parenchyma in ADC map. In the b value of 100, 200, 300, 500, 600s/mm2, the difference of ADC value on VX2 tumor tissue and normal liver tissue was statistically significant, VX2 tumors’ ADC value lower than normal liver tissue. When the b value was 200, 300, 400s/mm2, the difference of ADC value in VX2 tumor tissue was not statistically significant, when the b value was 300, 400, 500s/mm2, the difference of ADC value in normal liver tissue was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The rabbit models of hepatic VX2 tumors were suitable for DWI imaging studies, DWI sequence is helpful in observing anatomy by different signal intensity and can conduct a quantitative analysis through the ADC value, it belongs to morphology and function imaging and will be possible for qualitative analysis of rabbit models of hepatic VX2 tumors by different treatments.
2008, Vol. 19 
