Peripheral pulmonary nodules: relationship between multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging and tumor angiogenesis and VEGF expression.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between 16-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging and tumor angiogenesis and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) expression in patients with benign and malignant pulmonary nodules, and differential diagnosis between benign and malignant pulmonary nodules.


METHODS
Sixty-four patients with benign and malignant pulmonary nodules underwent 16-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging. The CT perfusion imaging was analyzed for TDC (time density curve), perfusion parametric maps, and the respective perfusion parameters. Immunohistochemical findings of MVD (microvessel density) measurement and VEGF expression was evaluated.


RESULTS
The shape of the TDC of peripheral lung cancer was similar to those of inflammatory nodule. PH (peak height), PHpm/PHa (peak height ratio of pulmonary nodule to aorta), BF (blood flow), BV (blood volume) value of peripheral lung cancer and inflammatory nodule were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Both showed significantly higher PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV value than those of benign nodule (all P < 0.05). Peripheral lung cancer showed significantly higher PS (permeability surface) value than that of inflammatory nodule and benign nodule (all P < 0.05). BV, BF, PS, MTT, PH, PHpm/PHa, and MVD among three groups of peripheral lung cancers were not significantly (all P > 0.05). In the case of adenocarcinoma, BV, BF, PS, PHpm/PHa, and MVD between poorly and well differentiation and between poorly and moderately differentiation were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The peripheral lung cancers with VEGF positive expression showed significantly higher PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV, PS, and MVD value than those of the peripheral lung cancer with VEGF negative expression, and than those of benign nodule with VEGF positive expression (all P < 0.05). When investigating VEGF negative expression, it is found that PH, PHpm/PHa, and MVD of inflammatory nodule were significantly higher than those of peripheral lung cancer, PS of inflammatory nodule were significantly lower than that of peripheral lung cancer (all P < 0.05). PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, and BV of benign nodule were significantly lower than those of inflammatory nodule (all P < 0.05), rather than PS and MTT (mean transit time) (all P > 0.05). PH, PHpm/PHa, BV, and PS of benign nodule were significantly lower than those of peripheral lung cancer (all P < 0.05). In the case of VEGF positive expression, MVD was positively correlated with PH, PHpm/PHa, BF, BV, and PS of peripheral lung cancer and PS of benign nodule (all P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Multi-slice spiral CT perfusion imaging closely correlated with tumor angiogenesis and reflected MVD measurement and VEGF expression. It provided not only a non-invasive method of quantitative assessment for blood flow patterns of peripheral pulmonary nodules but also an applicable diagnostic method for peripheral pulmonary nodules.
Ma
Shu-Hua
SH
Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Shantou University, Shantou 515041, PR China. mashuhua6699@sina.com
Le
Hong-Bo
HB
Jia
Bao-hui
BH
Wang
Zhao-Xin
ZX
Xiao
Zhuang-Wei
ZW
Cheng
Xiao-Ling
XL
Mei
Wei
W
Wu
Min
M
Hu
Zhi-Guo
ZG
Li
Yu-Guang
YG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D003074:Solitary Pulmonary Nodule / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood
C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A