Ultrasound detection of spontaneous hepato-cellular carcinomas in X/myc bitransgenic mice.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate trans-abdominal ultrasound for the detection of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a bitrasgenic murine (X/myc) model using a commercially available high-frequency ultrasound unit.


METHODS
Sixty-one female animals were included in this study. These animals were submitted to a single ultrasound examination of the liver under general anesthesia (isoflurane), and then euthanized. Results of ultrasound were compared with necropsy and histopathology.


RESULTS
The lesions demonstrated a fairly consistent aspect (oval- or round-shaped, well-defined hypoechoic homogeneous lesions), and lesions as small as 2 mm were identified. For detection of hepatic nodules per mouse the sensitivity was 75%, the specificity was 100% and the accuracy was 88.5%. For detection of hepatic focal lesions per lesions the overall sensitivity was 60%, the specificity was 97%, and the accuracy was 75.9%. Contrast-enhanced harmonic ultrasound imaging did not improve the identification of the lesions in our experimental conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
High-frequency ultrasound appears to be an efficient tool allowing new possibilities to use this animal model and evaluate new therapies in longitudinal studies, which are much more powerful.
Mai
W
W
ANIMAGE - Rhone-Alpes Genopole, Batiment CERMEP, Lyon, France.
Barraud
L
L
Lefrancois
L
L
Scoazec
J Y
JY
Guerret
S
S
Vray
D
D
Merle
P
P
Vitvitski-Trepo
L
L
Trepo
C
C
Janier
M F
MF
D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography