Irreversible electroporation ablation against subcutaneously implanted VXtumors in rabbits: findings of shearwave ultrasound elastography.

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate stiffness changes of rabbit subcutaneous VXtumors before and after irreversible electroporation (IRE) ablationby shearwave ultrasound elastography (SWE). METHODS: IRE was performed on 20 subcutaneously implanted VXtumors in rabbits (R-SIVX). Tumor stiffness was measured by SWE at different time points (before IRE,120minutes after IRE,7 days after IRE and 14 days after IRE). RESULTS: Before IRE, the mean stiffness (E) of tumors was (10.45 ± 1.07) KPa. 120 minutes after I RE, the Eof tumors obviously rose to (70.53 ± 9.87) KPa. 7 days after IRE, the Eof tumors decreased to (40.22 ± 9.01) KPa. 14 days after IRE, the Eof tumors was (15.17 ± 1.00) KPa. A clear boundary was observed between the ablation area and the normal tissues in the pathological results. CONCLUSIONS: The stiffness of the VXtumors experienced a first rise process and tend to be normal in the procedure of IRE. SWE could provide tissue stiffness information of different IRE ablation period as a non-invasive method.