OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between enhanced degree in the cancer lesion and angiogenesis in the tumor through early manifestations in enhanced helical CT in patients with bladder cancer.

METHODSFifty-three patients with bladder carcinoma were examined by pelvic plain CT and helical CT scan at peak enhancement of cancer lesion. Histologic grade, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and micro-vascular density (MVD) were analyzed for each resected cancer lesion. Pearson and Spearman correlation tests were used to assess the relationship between CT enhancement and histologic grade, VEGF or MVD.

RESULTSIn early enhancing phase of helical CT, different degrees of enhancement were observed in 73 bladder cancer lesions. The difference between average CT attenuation and MVD in different histologic grade cancer lesions was statistically significant (P < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between the CT enhancement and MVD (gamma = 0.936, P < 0.001), histologic grade (gamma = 0.75, P < 0.001), but VEGF of bladder cancer did not correlate with the CT enhancement or MVD.

CONCLUSIONThe early enhancement of helical CT enhancement of bladder cancer, showing a positive relation to MVD and histologic grade, can reflect the tumor angiogenesis and blood supply.