title: Digital subtraction angiography and computer assisted image analysis for the evaluation of the antiangiogenetic effect of ionizing radiation on tumor angiogenesis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate and quantify the antiangiogenetic effect of ionizing radiation on tumor angiogenesis using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in conjunction with computer assisted image analysis (CAIA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Walker 256 carcinosarcoma was inoculated in both glutei of 12 Wistar rats. When the tumors reached a diameter of 1.5 cm, local irradiation of the right gluteus was performed. The left gluteus of each animal served as a control. After 24 hours of irradiation, angiography was performed, and images where digitized and subsequently processed. The effect of irradiation was observed both in big and small vessels (smaller or greater than 200 microm).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Irradiated areas of both small and big vessels showed a statistically significant reduction in both total vessel area and length. Small vessels showed a greater trend toward suppression by irradiation (not statistically significant).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irradiation had a deleterious effect in both macro- and micro-blood supply of a tumor. The use of CAIA enhanced the efficacy of DSA and enabled the in vivo identification of the effect of irradiation on various caliber vessels as well as the ratios of total length and total area of small and big vessels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Siablis
authors.forename: Evangelos N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Liatsikos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karnabatidis
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Kagadis
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Sakelaropoulos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maroulis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kardamakis
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanassopoulos
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Perimenis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikiforidis
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Barbalias
mesh_terms: D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar