Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects and pathologic changes of VX2 liver tumor in rabbits treated with CT-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) with different concentration. Methods Thirty-two New Zealand rabbits with VX2 liver tumor were randomly divided into 4 groups (each n=8), i.e. anhydrous ethanol, 75% ethanol, 50% ethanol and control group (administrated physiological saline). Tumor size, imaging and pothologic changes were observed 7 d, 14 d, 21 d and 60 d after PEI. Results The volume was (4.68±5.05) cm~3 in anhydrous ethanol group, (6.33±6.59) cm~3 in 75% ethanol group, (17.54±5.06) cm~3 in 50% ethanol group and (16.87±5.27) cm~3 in control group 21 d after PEI. Tumor size in control group was larger than that in 75% ethanol group (t=6.32, P＜0.05) and anhydrous ethanol group (t=6.74, P＜0.05), in 50% ethanol group was larger than that in 75% ethanol group (t=4.99, P＜0.05) and anhydrous ethanol group (t=12.77, P＜0.05). No difference of tumor size was found between 50% ethanol group and control group, nor between 75% ethanol group and anhydrous ethanol group. ALT and AST both increased in all groups 1 d after PEI and returned to normal 7 d later except anhydrous ethanol group. ALT and AST in anhydrous ethanol group were higher than those in other groups (t=4.10, 4.49, 3.06, 5.79, 5.91, 4.11, all P＜0.05), and no difference of ALT and AST was detected between other groups. Area of coagulation necrosis enlarged with the increase of ethanol concentration. Conclusion Anhydrous ethanol and 75% ethanol both have obvious inhibition function to the rabbit VX2 tumor, while 75% ethanol has little damage to the liver function and is suitable for PEI.