The solid component within part-solid nodules: 3-dimensional quantification, correlation with the malignant grade of nonmucinous pulmonary adenocarcinomas, and comparisons with 2-dimentional measures and semantic features in low-dose computed tomography

Cancer Imaging

Research Article

Peng Zhou¹  Changjiu He¹  Yong Li¹  Haomiao Qing¹  Hao Xu¹  Jieke Liu¹  Chaolian Xie¹ 

[1] Department of Radiology, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China;

关键词: Part-solid nodule;    Pulmonary adenocarcinoma;    Solid component;    Malignant grade;    Low-dose computed tomography;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s40644-023-00577-4

 received in 2023-03-27, accepted in 2023-05-29,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThere is no consensus on 3-dimensional (3D) quantification method for solid component within part-solid nodules (PSNs). This study aimed to find the optimal attenuation threshold for the 3D solid component proportion in low-dose computed tomography (LDCT), namely the consolidation/tumor ratio of volume (CTRV), basing on its correlation with the malignant grade of nonmucinous pulmonary adenocarcinomas (PAs) according to the 5th edition of World Health Organization classification. Then we tested the ability of CTRV to predict high-risk nonmucinous PAs in PSNs, and compare its performance with 2-dimensional (2D) measures and semantic features.MethodsA total of 313 consecutive patients with 326 PSNs, who underwent LDCT within one month before surgery and were pathologically diagnosed with nonmucinous PAs, were retrospectively enrolled and were divided into training and testing cohorts according to scanners. The CTRV were automatically generated by setting a series of attenuation thresholds from − 400 to 50 HU with an interval of 50 HU. The Spearman’s correlation was used to evaluate the correlation between the malignant grade of nonmucinous PAs and semantic, 2D, and 3D features in the training cohort. The semantic, 2D, and 3D models to predict high-risk nonmucinous PAs were constructed using multivariable logistic regression and validated in the testing cohort. The diagnostic performance of these models was evaluated by the area under curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve.ResultsThe CTRV at attenuation threshold of -250 HU (CTRV− 250HU) showed the highest correlation coefficient among all attenuation thresholds (r = 0.655, P < 0.001), which was significantly higher than semantic, 2D, and other 3D features (all P < 0.001). The AUCs of CTRV− 250HU to predict high-risk nonmucinous PAs were 0.890 (0.843–0.927) in the training cohort and 0.832 (0.737–0.904) in the testing cohort, which outperformed 2D and semantic models (all P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe optimal attenuation threshold was − 250 HU for solid component volumetry in LDCT, and the derived CTRV− 250HU might be valuable for the risk stratification and management of PSNs in lung cancer screening.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2023

【 图 表 】

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