Tumor angiogenesis and dynamic CT in lung adenocarcinoma: radiologic-pathologic correlation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work was to evaluate the correlation of tumor angiogenesis and dynamic CT in lung adenocarcinoma. METHOD: Thirty-five consecutive patients with lung adenocarcinoma underwent dynamic chest CT. Maximum attenuation of dynamic CT was compared with microvessel densities (MVDs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The mean peak attenuation (A(PA)) of lung adenocarcinoma correlated with MVD (r = 0.689, p < 0.0001). VEGF positiveness of lung adenocarcinoma was 63%. There was a significant difference in A(PA) between VEGF-positive and -negative lung adenocarcinomas (39.9 +/- 3.9 and 24.3 +/- 2.3; p < 0.05). The mean MVDs of VEGF-positive adenocarcinomas were significantly higher than those of negative ones (82.5 +/- 5.9 and 49.2 +/- 7.1; p < 0.05). The mean A(PA) of VEGF-positive lung adenocarcinomas correlated positively with MVD (r = 0.707, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The A(PA) value of dynamic CT reflects MVD in lung adenocarcinoma. The A(PA) value of dynamic CT might be an index for VEGF-related tumor angiogenesis.