title: Percutaneous ultrasound guided implantation of VX2 for creation of a rabbit hepatic tumor model.
abstract: Creation of a VX2 tumor model has traditionally required a laparotomy and surgical implantation of tumor fragments. Open surgical procedures are invasive and require long procedure times and recovery that can result in post-operative morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study is to report the results of a percutaneous ultrasound guided method for creation of a VX2 model in rabbit livers. A total of 27 New Zealand white rabbits underwent a percutaneous ultrasound guided approach, where a VX2 tumor fragment was implanted in the liver. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess for tumor growth and necropsy was performed to determine rates of tract seeding and metastatic disease. Ultrasound guided tumor implantation was successful in all 27 rabbits. One rabbit died 2 days following the implantation procedure. Two rabbits had no tumors seen on follow-up imaging. Therefore, tumor development was seen in 24/26 (92%) rabbits. During the follow-up period, tract seeding was seen in 8% of rabbits and 38% had extra-hepatic metastatic disease. Therefore, percutaneous ultrasound guided tumor implantation safely provides reliable tumor growth for establishing hepatic VX2 tumors in a rabbit model with decreased rates of tract seeding, compared to previously reported methods.
authors: Department of Radiology, Division of Interventional Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States of America; Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors: Sarah B
authors: SB
authors: White
authors: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America.
authors: Jeane
authors: J
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America.
authors: Andrew C
authors: AC
authors: Gordon
authors: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors: Kathleen R
authors: KR
authors: Harris
authors: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors: Jodi R
authors: JR
authors: Nicolai
authors: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas, United States of America.
authors: Derek L
authors: DL
authors: West
authors: Department of Radiology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America.
authors: Andrew C
authors: AC
authors: Larson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography