Comparison of hepatic VX2-carcinomas after intra-arterial, intraportal and intraparenchymal tumor cell injection. An angiographic and computed tomographic study in the rabbit.

Hepatic VX2-carcinomas were produced in 45 rabbits by injection of approximately 25 x 10(6) tumor cells into the proper hepatic artery, the superior mesenteric vein, or directly into the liver parenchyma. With the intra-arterial and intraportal approaches, survival times (12 +/- 4 and 13 +/- 5 days, respectively), radiographic and autopsy findings revealing a liver with diffuse tumor involvement were very similar. With intraparenchymal tumor cell injection, survival time was significantly longer (18 +/- 14 days) and the hepatic VX2-carcinoma always localized. The tumor appeared hypervascular on angiography and hypodense on computed tography (CT). After intravenous injection of diatrizoate, the attenuation in the tumor increased less than in the surrounding liver so the lesion became relatively less dense and more easily recognized on CT-scans. The apparent discrepancy between angiographic and contrast enhanced CT findings can be explained with the difference in blood supply of hepatic tumors and normal liver parenchyma.