Abstract: Objective: To evaluate the success rate of VX2 tumor in rabbits and study the image manifestations by different methods. Methods: VX2 tumor was implanted in 60 New Zealand rabbits by three methods: laparotomic burying, laparotomic puncture and percutaneous puncture, 20 rabbits per group. Ten were subjected to carcinoma masses and ten carcinoma fluids in each group. CT, MRI and liver angiography were performed two weeks after inoculation. Results: Implantation rate was significantly higher in the two laparotomic routes compared with the percutaneous route. The VX2 liver tumors were demonstrated as hypodensity on plain CT scanning and enhanced at an early artery phase and hypodensity at a portal phase image. On MR scannings, the VX2 liver tumors were seen as hypointensity on T1WI and slight hyperintensity on T2WI. Hepatic angiography showed the tumors were hypervascular and the hepatic artery was the main feeding vessel. Necrosis and bleeding were often found in the area of VX2 liver tumors two weeks after implantation. Conclusion: Construction of VX2 liver tumor by a laparotomic route is simple and short circled. The image manifestations of the VX2 liver tumor in rabbits are similar to those of hepatic primary carcinoma in human.

Key words: Liver neoplasms, experimental, Rabbits, Computed tomographic, Magnetic resonance imaging, Angiography, digital subtraction