title: Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation between quantitative parameters and arteries in neoangiogenesis or sinusoidal capillarization.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The quantitative parameters in contrast-enhanced ultrasonography-time-intensity curve of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were studied to explore their potential importance in monitoring the effects of anti-angiogenic therapy for HCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  115 HCC patients were studied with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography-time-intensity curve (CEUS-TIC) and with immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections. The CEUS images were analyzed off-line to obtained quantitative parameters including maximum of intensity (IMAX), rise time (RT), time to peak (TTP), mean transit time (mTT), rise slope (RS), and washout time (WT). Monoclonal antibodies specific for smooth muscle actin and anti-CD34 were used to observe unpaired arteries (UAs) and microvessel area (MVA) of sinusoidal capillarization, respectively. The UAs and MVA of 82 HCC cases were successfully stained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of UAs had moderate correlation with RT (r=-0.446), TTP (r=-0.432), and RS (r=0.431) (P<0.05), and it had mild correlation with IMAX (r=0.303) and WT (r=0.285) (P<0.05). MVA of sinusoidal capillarization had no correlation with perfusion parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative CEUS-TIC parameters reflecting hemodynamics of tumors are correlated with UAs, but not with MVA, and they might be used to monitor the effects of anti-angiogenic therapy on HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China & Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, China. peixqjoyce@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xiao Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Long Zhong
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Mu Yan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jie Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: An Hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Min Shan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002196:Capillaries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D049671:History, 18th Century; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010743:Phospholipids; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012984:Software; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D010743:Phospholipids; C420843:contrast agent BR1; D013459:Sulfur Hexafluoride