This research is to explore the perfusion time-intensity curve parameters of a lung adenocarcinoma xenograft into nude mouse model with contrast enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS); and to investigate the angiogenesis features of tumor at different growth time. Twenty one lung adenocarcinoma xenografted nude mice were divided into three groups and inculcated with human lung adenocarcinoa. Time window for examining CEUS were respectively in 7-day, 14-day and 28-day. The perfusion parameters including rise time (RT), peak intensity (PI), area under the curve (AUC) of lung tumor were obtained on CEUS images by using off-line software Q lab. Immunohistochemically staining for CD34 was used to observe the microvessel density (MVD).The 7-day group had the highest AUC and PI; AUC and PI of 14-day and 28-day group decreased gradually (P < 0.05). RT was increased as tumor growth. In tumor with necrosis, AUC and PI of non-necrosis part were also larger than necrosis part (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemically staining for CD34 of all tumors reflected that the density of microvessels in necrosis tumor was significantly higher than those without necrosis (7.50±3.44 vs.12.44±5.74, P=0.034). Pearson correlation indicated that PI was positively related with MVD (r=0.668, P=0.008). Lung adenocarcinoma perfusion characteristic can be accessed from time-intensity curve parameters by using noninvasively and non-radiative contrast enhanced ultrasonography. Time-intensity curve parameters including AUC, PI and RT may reflect tumor angiogenesis.
