title: Assessment of fibrotic tissue and microvascular architecture by in-line phase-contrast imaging in a mouse model of liver fibrosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the value of in-line phase-contrast imaging with computed tomography (ILPCI-CT) by synchrotron radiation (SR) for liver fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver fibrosis models were set up in 13 BALB/c mice by peritoneal injections of thioacetamide and evaluated by ILPCI-CT. Histological staging was used to categorize liver fibrosis into normal, mild fibrosis and advanced fibrosis groups. Microvessel density (MVD), the ratio of total vessel length to volume (L/V), the ratio of total number of branching points to liver volume (P/V) and the distribution of vessel diameter were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The CT images showed slightly high-density shadows around the portal tracts in the fibrosis group. Three-dimensional reconstruction can detect vascular and nodular changes on the surface of fibrotic livers. The MVDs between the three groups were significantly different (P = 0.024). L/V was significantly different between the three groups (P = 0.014). There was a positive correlation between MVD and P/V.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fibrous material can be detected by ILPCI-CT even in the early stage of fibrosis. MVD, L/V, P/V and the distribution of vessel diameter were consistent with fibrosis-related angiogenesis progress. Three-dimensional reconstruction is a promising method to visualize morphological changes of the fibrotic liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • ILPCI-CT can detect fibrous material even in the early stage of liver fibrosis. • MVD, L/V, P/V, and the distribution of vascular diameter reflect pathological angiogenesis. • 3D reconstruction could be a promising approach for detecting liver fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Engeineering, Shanghai Jiaotong University, No. 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
authors.forename: Hao-Jie
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China. zhangxi0009@163.com.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. zhangxi0009@163.com.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Breast Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, No. 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
authors.forename: Rui-Min
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005355:Fibrosis; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D055806:Microvessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Angiogenesis; CT; Microvessel; Reconstruction; Vascular