title: [Correlation of CKP and VEGF expression and microvessel density to spiral CT manifestations of thymoma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation of cytokeratin pan (CKP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and microvessel density (MVD) to spiral CT manifestations of thymoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four thymoma patients were underwent spiral CT examination, and 40 of the patients also had enhanced CT examination. All the CT findings were carefully reviewed to analyze their correlation to the expressions of CKP, VEGF and MVD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The enhancement on spiral CT images increased with the levels of VEGF expression and MVD counting (P<0.01). Significant correlations were observed between VEGF expression, MVD counting and such spiral CT findings as lobular contours, cusp-like or sawtooth-like margins and tumor invasions of the pleural membrane, pericardium and great vessels (P<0.05). CKP expression showed no obvious correlation to these findings by spiral CT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Spiral CT can reflect the pathological characteristics of thymoma, and may serve as a noninvasive modality for preoperative evaluation of thymoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Lanzhou General Hospital of PLA, Lanzhou 730050, China. yangyan-yy.2008@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhong-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jin-wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jian-guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiao-hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ji-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Xin-xia
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels; D008875:Middle Aged; D013945:Thymoma / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007633:Keratins