The aim of this study was to compare bioluminescent imaging and PET for visualization of peritoneal carcinomatosis in mice and to evaluate their sensitivity.
Nude mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with gastric cancer cells. Imaging of the tumor development via bioluminescent imaging and PET was performed at different time points after tumor cell inoculation After imaging mice were sacrificed and dissected for investigation of tumor distribution.
BLI could detect 40 of 82 lesions which equals a sensitivity of 49%. If located superficially, small tumors could be detected easily, whereas tumors which are located deep inside the peritoneal cavity can only be detected difficultly by optical imaging.
PET could detect 58 of 78 lesions which equals a sensitivity of 74%. Even small nodules in the range of 1-2mm could de detected in more than 60%, nodules in the range of 2-4mm in 89% and nodules bigger than 4 mm in 100%.
A combination of both methods represent a promising setup for the visualisation of tumorprogression and relapse after therapy.
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