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Figure 7 | Molecular Cancer

Figure 7

From: Application of magnetic resonance imaging in transgenic and chemical mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 7

Application of MRI in the chemical model of N-nitrosodiethylamine induced HCC in mice. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced in WT mice by single application of DEN. 45 week old animals were subjected to MRI and subsequently sacrificed. (A) Macroscopic appearance of a representative WT liver 45 weeks after DEN treatment. (B) Sagittal true-FISP imaging displays destruction of normal liver architecture; well defined, slightly hyperintense areas (white arrows) indicate large tumor nodules. (C) Un-enhanced T1-weighted gradient echo image of the same DEN-treated liver. Especially large tumors but also a sub-group of small liver lesions are detectable and appear as hypointense structures (white arrows). (D) Contrast-enhanced T1 scans of the same liver. A sub-group of tumors (arrows) is only detectable after application of contrast agent (gadoxetic acid disodium) and appears highly hypointense. (E) T2-weighted scan showing strong alteration of liver anatomy due to multinodular carcinogenesis. (F-K) Histopathological analysis of two representative tumor nodules. (F) Liver section of one extracted tumor (overview). One example of a nodule-in-nodule like structure is highlighted (white circle) and correlates with structures seen in un-enhanced T1-weighted scans showing hypointense large tumor and embedded hyperintense areas (lower left). (G-H) Enlarged sectional views of (F). (I-K) Histology of a second isolated tumor with moderate differentiation. (I) Section overview, the corresponding appearance of the resected tumor in the MR is shown in the lower left of the figure.(J, K) Enlarged sectional view of (I) showing moderate pleomorphism of tumor cell nuclei and cytoplasm indicating for a moderate differentiation.

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