title: [Correlation of blood flow assessed by CT perfusion imaging and microvascular ultrastructure in non-small cell lung cancer: a preliminary study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation between blood flow assessed by CT perfusion imaging and characteristics of microvascular ultrastructure in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  twenty-eight patients with non-small cell lung cancer proven surgically and pathologically underwent perfusion CT examination. The patients were divided into a hyper-perfusion group and a hypo-perfusion group by the median value of blood flow, and then the differences of microvascular ultrastructure in the two groups were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median BF value of the 28 patients was 36.40 ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1). Take this median value as the boundary, the group with hypo-perfusion showed a significantly lower BF value than the group with hyper-perfusion [(30.84 ± 4.79) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1) vs. (49.67 ± 10.89) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1), t = -5.925, P < 0.001]. The group with lymph node metastasis showed a significantly lower BF value than the group without lymph node metastasis [(30.78 ± 5.24) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1) vs. (50.73 ± 11.16) ml×100 g(-1)×min(-1), t = 3.490, P = 0.015]. The maturity of microvessels of the hyper-perfusion group was higher than that of the hypo-perfusion group. Under the electron microscope, the microvessels in the hypo-perfusion group showed a more narrow lumen, poorer integrity of basement membrane, a more close relationship between cancer cells and microvascular wall, and cancer cells were more easily seen in the microvascular lumen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The blood flow value of CT perfusion imaging may be related with the abnormal microvascular ultrastructure, and may be helpful to the prediction of metastasis risk in NSCLC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Xiang Ya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jin-kang
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Sheng-xi
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Guo-qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mo-ling
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lü
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D055420:Perfusion Imaging; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A