AUTHOR=Cheng Zhimei , Yang Qin , He Huizhou , Li Ran , Li Xueying , Jiang Hongyu , Zhao Xuya , Li Junxiang , Wang Lizhou , Zhou Shi , Zhang Shuai 

TITLE=Intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging and shear wave elastography for evaluating peritumoral liver fibrosis after transarterial chemoembolization in a VX2 rabbit liver tumor model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2022.893925

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2022.893925

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p>In this study, we sought to evaluate changes in peritumoral fibrosis after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model using intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM DWI) and ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE). A total of 20 rabbits underwent implantation of VX2 tumor tissues in the left lobe of the liver. The rabbits were randomly divided into an experimental group (<italic>n</italic> = 10) or a control group (<italic>n</italic> = 10). Those in the experimental group were treated with an emulsion of lipiodol and pirarubicin through a microcatheter 2–3 weeks after implantation; those in the control group were treated with sterile water. Compared with the control group, the true diffusion coefficient (D) and pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*) values in liver tissues were significantly lower (p &lt; 0.05 for all) and liver stiffness values (LSV) (10.58 ± 0.89 kPa) were higher in the experimental group (7.65 ± 0.86 kPa; p &lt; 0.001). The median stage of liver fibrosis based on METAVIR scores was 1 (1,1) in the control group and 2 (2,3) in the experimental group (<italic>Z</italic> = 4.15, p &lt; 0.001). D, D*, and LSV were significantly correlated with pathologic staining in the assessment of liver fibrosis (<italic>r</italic> = −0.54 p = 0.015; <italic>r</italic> = −0.50, p = 0.025; <italic>r</italic> = 0.91, p &lt; 0.001; respectively). These data suggest that TACE aggravates liver injury and liver fibrosis, especially surrounding the tumor, in a rabbit VX2 liver tumor model. IVIM DWI and SWE can be used to evaluate the change in liver fibrosis.</p>