[A study of correlation between the blood supply types of PHcc on spiral CT and the level of VEGF expression in PHcc].

Objective: To study the correlation between the blood supply types of primary hepatocellar carcinoma (PHcc) on Spiral CT and the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in PHcc for improvement in treatment strategies and prognostication.

Methods: Forty-five cases of PHcc identified by operation and pathology were investigated. Immunohistochemistry staining in SP was performed. The relationships between blood supply types of PHcc on Spiral CT during dual-phase scanning and the expression levels of VEGF in well-differentiated, moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated PHcc were analyzed.

Results: There were four blood supply types of PHcc on Spiral CT. Both the strong positive staining and the positive staining were most frequently seen in the hepatic artery blood supply type, and then were frequently in the double blood supply type, i. e. the hepatic arterial supply combining with the portal blood supply type. The positive staining results were rarely seen in the portal blood supply type and poor blood supply type (P<0.001). And with the escalation of the Edmonson- Steiner histological grades, the VEGF expression levels were shown to increase correspondingly (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: We can ascertain the blood supply type of PHcc and infer the VEGF expression levels that reflect the PHcc angiogenesis condition and the histological grades by means of Spiral CT during dual- phase scanning. Hence this method is useful for the selection of PHcc treatment plans, including anti-angiogenesis and evaluating the prognosis.