Correlation between expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and the spiral CT manifestations of hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective To study the relationships between the vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) level and enhanced spiral CT manifestations of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and to evaluate the significance of the VEGF expression from the point of medical imaging.Methods Fifty patients with surgically and pathologically proved HCC underwent spiral CT scanning(plain and dual-phase).According to tumor contrast and signals shown on spiral CT,the HCC was divided into four types :arterial blood supplying,portal blood supplying, both arterial and portal blood supplying,and poorly blood supplying.VEGF expression levels of tumor samples were analyzed quantitatively by flow cytometry.Results ①Expression level of VEGF in the border of tumor was higher than those in the center and periphery of tumor(P(0.01)).②Expression level of VEGF was correlated with HCC stage.(P0.01).③Expression level of VEGF was correlated with the type of HCC(P0.05).④Positive correlation was found between SCT enhancement value in arterial phase and expression levels of VEGF in HCC(P0.01).⑤The size of tumor was not correlated with the VEGF expression level(P0.05).In lymphatic metastasis group and portal venous tumor thrombus group,the expression level of VEGF was higher than that in the group without lymphatic metastasis or portal venous tumor thrombus(P0.01,P0.05).Conclusion Positive correlation was found between SCT enhancement value in arterial phase and expression levels of VEGF in HCC(r=0.713).The expression levels of VEGF were also correlated with the type,stage,contrast enhancement model,and metastasis of HCC.