The aim of the present study is to evaluate a method of establishing model of rabbit liver VX2 tumor using percutaneous puncture inoculation of tumor fragment guided by ultrasonography. VX2 tumor fragments were implanted into the liver of 13 New Zealand white rabbits flushed by 1 mL normal saline through percutaneous puncture needle guided by ultrasonography. Conventional ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) were performed 14 days after inoculation, and then the rabbits were sacrificed and pathologically examined. The success rate of inoculation was 100%. The average size of liver VX2 tumor was 1.7 cm×1.3 cm, CEUS of VX2 liver tumors showed the "rapid wash-in and wash-out" vascular pattern. There were significant differences between VX2 tumors and liver parenchyma in quantitative parameters of A, k and A × k (P<0.05), which meant that VX2 liver tumors were characterized by more blood flow volume and faster blood velocity than liver parenchyma. Tumor fragment flushed by normal saline into the liver through a needle may be a promising method for the induction of a hepatic tumor. And CEUS can be used for accurately assessing angiogenesis and blood perfusion of VX2 tumors.
Keywords: VX2 tumor; contrast-enhanced ultrasonography; liver; rabbit; ultrasonography.