EXPERIMENTAL TISSUE-TRANSPLANTATION USING A BIOPSY INSTRUMENT AND RADIOLOGIC METHODS

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. The liver is the most common site for metast ases from gastrointestinal tumors, malignant melanoma, and primary liv er tumors. Early detection or exclusion of a neoplasm is important for appropriate treatment. The authors introduce a method for tumor trans plantation into the rabbit liver for experimental purposes. METHODS. V X2 tumor cells initially were grown intraperitoneally in a New Zealand white rabbit. Using an automated biopsy instrument with an ultrathin- wall biopsy needle, standardized tumor samples were taken from the per itoneal tumor. Using the same technique, a tumor sample was transplant ed into the left liver lobe in a series of seven rabbits. RESULTS. Tum or growth was achieved in all cases at the implantation site. The tumo rs were well delineated from the surrounding liver parenchyma. Metasta ses occurred only at later stages. CONCLUSION. The method is almost no ntraumatic to the animals, and the technical procedure is simple, time -saving, and provides well-localized tumor growth.