The mode of yearly biological cycle of malignant growth of hepatocellular carcinoma on computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
To detect the mode of yearly biological cycle of malignant biological behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
Twenty-one kinds of CT signs reflecting various degrees of malignant biological behavior were determined. A total of 360 patients were collected by random sampling of 30 patients each month. CT signs of each patient were fitted in corresponding group of yearly cyclic data respectively by cosine curves and analysed in terms of sequence characteristics (cosinor).


RESULTS
With a 95% confidence, 10 CT signs showed biological rhythm (P<0.05). The acrophase of CT features for highly-invasive growth concentrated between -60 degree and -120 degree from March to April. For low-invasive growth, however, the CT features were relatively low and concentrated between -180 degrees and -270 degrees from July to September. No acrophase was shown between -120 degrees and -180 degrees from May to June, and between -270 degrees and -330 degrees from October to November.


CONCLUSIONS
Between CT signs of the highly-invasive and those of low-invasive growth of HCC, a sequential difference in biological cycles can be observed.
Yu
Wan-Xian
WX
The CT Department, Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang 330006, China. Yuwx0917@sina.com
Zuo
Min-Jing
MJ
Sheng
Mao-Xin
MX
Huang
Hui-Min
HM
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000502:physiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed