Preoperative prediction of Ki-67 expression status in breast cancer based on dynamic contrast enhanced MRI radiomics combined with clinical imaging features model / 中华放射学杂志

Objective:To investigate the value of preoperative prediction of Ki-67 expression status in breast cancer based on multi-phase enhanced MRI combined with clinical imaging characteristics prediction model.Methods:This study was retrospective. A total of 213 breast cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between June 2016 and May 2017 were enrolled. All patients were female, aged 24-78 (51±10) years, and underwent routine breast MRI within 2 weeks prior to surgery. According to the different Ki-67 expression of postoperative pathological results, patients were divided into high expression group (Ki-67≥20%, 153 cases) and low expression group (Ki-67<20%, 60 cases). The radiomic features of breast cancer lesions were extracted from phase 2 (CE-2) and phase 7 (CE-7) images of dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE)-MRI, and all cases were divided into training and test sets according to the ratio of 7∶3. The radiomic features were first selected using ANOVA and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, followed by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method regression model. The same method of parameters selection was applied to clinical information and conventional imaging features [including gland classification, degree of background parenchymal enhancement, multifocal/multicentric, lesion location, lesion morphology, lesion long diameter, lesion short diameter, T 2WI signal characteristics, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signal characteristics, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, time-signal intensity curve type, and axillary lymph nodes larger than 1 cm in short axis]. Support vector machine (SVM) was then used to construct prediction models for Ki-67 high and low expression states. The predictive performance of the models were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under cueve(AUC). Results:Totally 1 029 radiomic features were extracted from CE-2 and CE-7 images, respectively, and 9 and 7 best features were obtained after selection, respectively. And combining the two sets of features for a total of 16 features constituted the CE-2+CE-7 image best features. Five valuable parameters including lesion location, lesion short diameter, DWI signal characteristics, ADC values, and axillary lymph nodes larger than 1 cm in short axis, were selected from all clinical image features. The SVM prediction models obtained from the radiomic features of CE-2 and CE-7 images had a high AUC in predicting Ki-67 expression status (>0.70) in both the training set and the test set. The models were constructed by combining the CE-2, CE-7, and CE-2+CE-7 radiomic features with clinical imaging features, respectively, and the corresponding model performance in predicting Ki-67 expression status was improved compared with the models obtained by using the CE-2, CE-7, and CE-2+CE-7 radiomic features alone. The SVM prediction model obtained from CE-2+CE-7 radiomic features combined with clinical imaging features had the best prediction performance, with AUC of 0.895, accuracy of 84.6%, sensitivity of 87.9%, and specificity of 76.2% for predicting Ki-67 expression status in the training set and AUC of 0.822, accuracy of 70.3%, sensitivity of 76.1%, and specificity of 55.6% in test sets.Conclusion:The SVM prediction model based on DCE-MRI radiomic features can effectively predict Ki-67 expression status, and the combination of radiomic features and clinical imaging features can further improve the model prediction performance.

The value of MR T2WI signal intensity related parameters for predicting pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the value of T2WI signal intensity related parameters that can be obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for predicting pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in patients with locally advanved rectal cancer (LARC).@*Methods@#Signal Intensity of Tumor (SIT) and Signal Intensity of Tumor/Muscle (SIT/M) of MR T2WI before and after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy of 101 patients with locally advanced rectal cancer were evaluated by two experienced readers independently. Signal Intensity of Tumor Reduction Rate (SITRR) and Signal Intensity of Tumor/Muscle Reduction Rate (SIT/MRR) were calculated. The difference of related parameters of T2WI tumor signal intensity between the pCR and the non-pCR group were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the diagnostic performance for predicting pCR.@*Results@#Of the 101 patients, 18 were in pCR group and 83 were in non-pCR group. In all patients, the SITpre, SITpost, SITRR, SIT/Mpre, SIT/Mpost and SIT/MRR measured by reader 1 were 197.0 (133.0), 144.2 (69.7), 0.4% (0.5%), 2.6 (0.6), 3.0 (2.3) and 0.4 (0.2)% in pCR group, and 227.0 (99.0), 205 (95.4), 0.1% (0.6%), 2.6 (0.6), 2.6 (1) in non-pCR group, respectively. SITpre, SITpost, SITRR, SIT/Mpre, SIT/Mpost and SIT/MRR measured by reader 2 were 193.0 (135.0), 143.0 (69.8), 0.4% (0.2%), 2.6 (0.6), 1.5 (0.5) and 0.39% (0.2%) in pCR group, and 234.0(108.0), 203(96.5), 0.1% (0.3%), 2.6 (0.6%), 1.7 (0.7) and 0.25% (0.2%) in non-pCR group, respectively. Between the pCR and non-pCR group, there were significant differences in SITpost, SIT/Mpost and SIT/MRR measured by both readers (all P<0.01), but there was no significant differences in SITpre and SIT/Mpre (P>0.05). The difference of SITRR measured by reader 1 was not statistically significant (P=0.415), while the difference of SITRR measured by reader 2 was statistically significant (P=0.001). In patients with rectal non-mucinous adenocarcinoma, SITpost, SIT/Mpost, SITRR and SIT/MRR measured by two physicians were still statistically significant between the pCR and non-pCR group (all P<0.01), but SITpre and SIT/Mpre had no significant difference (P>0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that in all patients, the area under curve (AUC) of SITpost, SIT/Mpost and SIT/MRR for predicting pCR to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer was 0.694-0.762, the sensitivity was 68.2%-77.3%, and the specificity was 63.6%-77.3%. In rectal non-mucinous adenocarcinoma patients, the AUC, sensitivity and specificity was 0.704-0.764, 62.7%-78.9% and 66.2%-84.2%, respectively.@*Conclusions@#T2WI signal intensity related parameters are potential predictors for pCR in locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiptherapy. The predictive value is higher in non-mucinous adenocarcinoma.

The comparison of the value of mono-exponential mode and diffusion kurtosis imaging mode in predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced breast carcinoma using diffusion-weighted imaging / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To compare the value of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) mode and mono-exponential mode in predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) for locally advanced breast carcinoma using DWI.Methods From January 1,2013 to December 31,2016,eighty patients with locally advanced breast carcinoma were enrolled into this prospective clinical study.The diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of histopathological results.The clinical stage stayed at Ⅱ or Ⅲ.The patients would receive breast-conserving surgery after NAC.All the patients underwent DWI examination by using both mono-exponential mode and DKI mode before chemotherapy was initiated.The parameters included ADC,mean diffusivity (MD) and mean kurtosis (MK).Within 1 to 3 days before or after MRI examination,the patients underwent aspiration biopsy,received 4 to 8 cycles of NAC and followed by surgery.According to histologic grading before NAC,the patients were classified into well-differentiated and poor-differentiated group.According to the comparison between pathological results acquired from biopsy before NAC and specimen acquired after surgery,the patients were classified into pathologic complete response (pCR) and pathologic non-complete response (non-pCR) according to treatment effect.The imaging parameters were compared between the pCR and the non-pCR group using t test.The predicting ability of two imaging modes was compared and analyzed with ROC analysis.The relationships between multiple imaging parameters,pathologic,clinical characteristics of tumor and treatment effect were analyzed using logistic multi-variate regression analysis,and further analyzed using Wald test.Results There were 30 cases of pCR and 50 cases of non-pCR.The ADC and MD values were lower in the pCR group than in the non-pCR group (P＜0.05).MK value was higher in the pCR group than in the non-pCR group (P＜0.05).ROC analysis showed that the area under ROC curve of ADC,MD and MK in predicting treatment effect were 0.732,0.866 and 0.683 respectively.Logistic regression analysis showed that,according to predicting ability,MD,ADC and MK successively were the independent predictors for the early response to chemotherapy.Conclusion Compared with mono-exponential mode,DKI mode can reflect the real micro-environment and water diffusion restriction within the tumor area more reliably and accurately,and is more suitable to serve as an imaging technique for predicting the response to NAC for locally advanced breast carcinoma.

Combined T2-weighted and diffusion-weighted MR imaging for staging of rectal cancers / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective@#To compare the diagnostic value of T2 weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and T2WI+ DWI magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for staging of rectal cancers for improving the accuracy of tumor staging.@*Methods@#From January 2011 to December 2013, 120 cases of rectal cancers proved by colonoscopy without receiving any anti-tumor treatment were enrolled retrospectively. The MRI data for these patients were divided into three groups, ie., T2WI, DWI and T2WI+ DWI, for evaluating the tumor stages. The results were compared with histopathologic findings. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated and compared with chi-square test. The nodal staging was predicted by using T2WI+ DWI.@*Results@#The accuracy for prediction of tumor staging was 83.3%, 65.0% and 92.5% for T2WI, DWI, and T2WI+ DWI respectively. The specificity for evaluating T1 and T2 stage, and the sensitivity for evaluating T3 by DWI was significantly lower than those using T2WI and T2WI+ DWI in rectal cancers. The sensitivity for evaluation of T2 by DWI was lower than that using T2WI+ DWI (63.0% vs. 88.9%). The sensitivity for evaluation T2 and specificity for T3 by T2WI+ DWI was higher than thouse using T2WI only (88.9% vs. 51.9%, 94.0% vs. 72.0%). The accuracy for prediction of nodal staging by using T2WI+ DWI was 62.1% (72/116).@*Conclusions@#T2WI is the key sequence for staging of rectal cancers. Although the diagnostic accuracy was not good by using DWI alone, the combination of T2WI and DWI can improve the accuracy significantly for tumor staging in rectal cancers, whereas the nodal staging was still a hard task for radiologists.

Preclinical application of MR and fluorescent dual-modality imaging combined with photothermal therapy in HER-2 positive breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective@#To construct superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) coated on trastuzumab and indocyanine green (ICG) and then investigate whether the coated nanoparticles (NPs) targeted to human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) receptors on breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.@*Methods@#The Fe3O4-trastuzumab-ICG NPs were constructed. And a series of characteristics of the NPs were evaluated. The uptake ability of SK-BR-3, a HER-2 positive breast cancer cell, was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Then the NPs were injected in the tail veins of SK-BR-3 xenograft tumor-bearing mice to observe the aggregation of NPs in the tumor sites by MRI and fluorescent imaging. Furthermore, when the NPs was gathered at the tumor sites, the near infrared thermal imaging system was used to monitor the tumor temperature after the near infrared radiation.@*Results@#The successfully constructed Fe3O4-trastuzumab-ICG NPs had the size of (25.93±4.25) nm. The absorption peak was 828 nm, which was as same as the emission wavelength of ICG. The NPs had a high relaxation rate of approximately 107.65 mM-1·s-1. The maximum temperature of NPs solution could reach to 57.8℃ after continuous near infrared laser irradiation. The transmission electron microscopy imaging revealed that the NPs could target and enter into the endoplasmic reticulum of SK-BR-3 cells. MRI analysis showed the lowest T2 relaxation time in the tumor sites 24 h after tail vein injection of the NPs. The △T2 of the tumor sites in the Fe3O4-trastuzumab-ICG group (30.7±4.8) ms was higher compared with that of control group (3.1±1.1) ms, Fe3O4-IgG-ICG group (4.4±0.9) ms and trastuzumab + Fe3O4-trastuzumab-ICG group (11.3±3.8) ms., respectively, all showing statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The fluorescence imaging revealed that the NPs was concentrated transiently in the intraperitoneal organs and tumor sites, then excreted into the bladder. After 24 h, there was an obvious aggregation in the tumor sites. The near infrared thermal imaging experiments showed that the temperature of tumor sites in Fe3O4-trastuzumab-ICG group could go up to 49.4℃ after continuous near infrared light irradiation.@*Conclusion@#The newly constructed Fe3O4-trastuzumab-ICG NPs have the potential to act as a multifunctional imaging agent and a powerful tool for photothermal therapy for HER-2 positive breast cancer.

To compare the predictive value of the radiomics siganature extrated from MRI plain or enhancement imaging for the survival of rectal cancer / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To compare the predictive value of radiomics signature extracted from MRI plain and enhancement sequence for the disease-free survival (DFS) of rectal cancer. Methods We retrospectively analyzed fifty-one patients with rectal adenocarcinoma confirmed by biopsy from October 2010 to December 2013 in Cancer Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.All patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy(nCRT)followed total mesorectal excision(TME),and MRI scans were performed before nCRT.Follow-up time for the survival patients were more than 3 years.The image segmentation was performed on the T2WI sequence of the small FOV and the multi-phase enhancement sequence venous phase,respectively.Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)Cox regression was applied to extract radiomics features and the imaging signature was constructed. According to the radiomics score of each patient,the patients were divided into the high risk group with shorter DFS and the low risk group with longer DFS. A 3-year DFS was calculated for radiomics signature using the Kaplan-Meier product limit method with univariate log-rank analysis testing for differences in the training and validation cohort, respectively. And the predictive ability of the model was evaluated by concordance index (C-index). Results The training set and the validation set were 36 and 15 cases, respectively. During follow-up 32 patients experienced relapse(26 distant,3 local and 3 both),and 19 cases were censored.Twelve features were extracted in the enhanced sequence.The radiomics signatures were significant for DFS in the training set and the validation set(P=0.000 2 and 0.009 1,respectively).The C-index of the model were 0.904 and 0.700 in the training set and the validation set, respectively. The model has the better ability to predict survival.Two features were extracted in the plain sequence.The radiomic signature was significant for DFS in the training set(P=0.005 0),while the radiomics signature was not significant for DFS in the validation set (P=0.767 0). The C-index of the model were 0.711 and 0.500 in the training set and the validation set, respectively.Conclusions Radiomics signature extracted from MRI venous phase enhancement sequence superior to plain sequence for predicting the DFS of rectal cancer before nCRT.

Measurement reproducibility of parameters derived from introvoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted MRI imaging of rectal cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective@#To study the measurement reproducibility of parameters derived from introvoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-MRI of rectal cancer between- and within- radiologists.@*Methods@#Clinical data of 34 patients with rectal cancer were prospective analyzed. Conventional MRI sequences, IVIM DWI-MRI with sixteen b values and dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE)-MRI sequences of rectum were acquired by GE 3.0-T MRI imager. The IVIM sequence images with b value=1000 sec/mm2 were selected to measure the maximum axial section of tumor by a radiologist with 15 year-experiences in gastrointestinal cancer imaging.Two radiologists (radiologist 1 and radiologist 2 with 2 and 10 years of experience in gastrointestinal cancer imaging, respectively) independently draw a freehand region of interest (ROI) that contained the largest available tumor area on the selected section. Monoexponential apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and biexponential IVIM metrics maps and IVIM parameters were generated automatically by the software. The repeated measurement was performed at an interval of one week. The average values of each measurement were used for statistical analysis. ADC values and IVIM parameters obtained between- and within- radiologists were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altaman plots were used to analyze the parameter reproducibility of two measurements between- and within- radiologists.@*Results@#The first and second measured ADC (×10-3mm2/s), true diffusivity (D, ×10-3mm2/s), false diffusivity (D*, mm2/s) and perfusion fraction (f, %) by radiologist 1 were 0.997, 0.692, 0.043, 34.6 and 0.993, 0.691, 0.038, 32.8, respectively. The first and second measured ADC (×10-3mm2/s), D (×10-3mm2/s), D* (mm2/s), f (%) by radiologist 2 were 0.987, 0.651, 0.046, 32.8 and 0.996, 0.689、0.041, 32.7, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in ADC and IVIM parameters obtained between- and within- radiologists (P>0.05). The ADC values and the f values of two times were significantly correlated between- and within- radiologists. The D values were significantly correlated within a radiologist, and the correlation of D* values within a radiologist was significantly higher than that between radiologists. The 95% limits of agreement (LoA) of ADC values and f values were smaller than those of D values and D* values between- and within- radiologists. The 95% LoA of ADC values was the least, while that of D* values varied most.The 95% LoA of f values and D values kept steady within a radiologist, and 95% LoA of f values was slightly smaller than that of D values. The 95% LoA of IVIM parameters (ADC, D, f, D* values) within radiologists 2 were better than those within radiologist 1.@*Conclusions@#The reproducibilities of ADC and f values are the best, while the reproducibility of D* values is relatively poorer in rectal cancer. Measurement reproducibility of parameters derived from IVIM may be improved by increasing radiologists’ experiences in drawing ROI.

The quantitative analysis of MR dynamic contrast-enhangced imaging on efficacy and prognosis of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization on hepatocellular carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective@#To investigate the prognostic value of quantitative parameters of dynamic contrast-enhangced MR (DCE-MR) on short-term efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).@*Methods@#79 patients with HCC underwent non-enhanced MR imaging and DCE on a 3.0T MR scanner before and one month after TACE. The quantitative parameters were measured on the maximal tumor region, including maximal tumor diameter(MTD), ADC, Ktrans, Kep and Ve value before and after TACE. All patients were divided into stable group (36 patients) and progressive group (43 patients) based on follow-up. The quantitative data of the two groups before and after TACE was collected for analysis.@*Results@#Among the 79 lesions in 79 patients, 21 were located in the left lobe of the liver, 53 in the right lobe of the liver and 5 in the junction area of the hepatic lobe. The maximum tumor diameter (MTD) was 2.2-9.9 cm, the median MTD was 5.1 cm. There were significant differences between progressive group and the stable group in MTD, Ktrans, Kep values of the tumor before TACE (P<0.05). One month after TACE, the MTD, Ktrans, Kep,ΔMTD, ΔKtrans and ΔKep values of the tumor in progressive group were statistically different with the stable group (P<0.05, respectively). For all the patients, the pre-TACE MTD, AFP, Ktrans and Kep values of tumors were statistically different with the post-TACE values (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#The quantitative parameters (Ktrans, Kep,ΔKtrans and ΔKep values) of the DCE-MR could predict and evaluate the short-term efficacy of TACE on HCC.

Texture analysis based on contrast-enhanced MRI can predict treatment response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy of breast cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective@#To investigate whether texture analysis based on contrast-enhanced MRI can predict pathological complete response of locally advanced breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC).@*Methods@#Forty-seven patients with breast cancer undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy from January 2015 to February 2016 were divided into pathological complete response (pCR) group or non-pathological complete response (non-pCR) group based on surgical pathology. Their parameters of texture analysis based on MRI before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and after 2 cycles of treatment were analyzed. Parameters(Energy, Entropy, Inertia, Correlation, Inverse Difference Moment)before and after 2 cycles of NAC between pCR and non-pCR groups were compared using Student t or Wilcoxon rank sum test. The diagnostic performance of different parameters was judged by the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.@*Results@#The post-NAC value was significantly different from that of pre-NAC (all P<0.05). Pre-treatment parameters (Energy, Entropy, Inertia, Correlation, Inverse Difference Moment) were 78.58×10-5(55.64×10-5, 135.23×10-5), 10.06 ± 1.02, 7 993.91±2 428.10, (4.76±0.99) ×10-5 and (18.10±4.13) ×10-3 in pCR group, and 76.84×10-5 (48.68×10-5, 154.15×10-5), 10.28±1.26, 7 184.77 (4 938.03, 9 974.04), (5.21±2.01) ×10-5 and (17.68±5.87) ×10-3 in non-pCR group. No significant difference was found between both groups. (P>0.05 for all). At the end of the second cycle of NAC, parameters(Energy, Entropy, Inertia, Correlation, Inverse Difference Moment) were (542.11±361.04) ×10-5, 7.95±1.28, 16 765.08±97 06.56, (0.43±0.07) ×10-5, and (12.18±9.82) ×10-3 in pCR group, and 133.00×10-5 (79.80×10-5, 239.00×10-5), 9.29±1.46, 7 916.64(6 418.89, 10 934.40), (0.38±0.08) ×10-5 and (14.80±5.06) ×10-3 in non-pCR group. At the end of the second cycle of NAC, there was significant difference in the parameters (Energy, Entropy, Inertia, Correlation) and Δparameters (ΔEnergy, ΔEntropy, ΔInertia, ΔInverse Difference Moment) between both groups (P<0.05 for all). The area under curve (AUC) of post-treatment ΔEntropy was 0.81, which was the largest one among parameters. Sensitivity of ΔEntropy for predicting pCR was 75.0% and specificity was 85.7%, respectively.@*Conclusion@#Texture analysis based on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can predict early treatment response in primary breast cancer.

Value of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in the diagnosis of breast lesions / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective@#To assess the value of digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) in the diagnosis of breast lesions.@*Methods@#Two hundred and fifty-three breast lesions in 250 patients were selected in this study. All lesions were confirmed pathologically. Preoperative diagnosis was performed independently with full-field digital mammography (FFDM), DBT and DBT plus FFDM, respectively. The diagnostic value of DBT for breast lesions was evaluated based on the pathological diagnosis as the gold standard. The diagnostic performance of DBT and FFDM for breast lesions was compared between the groups with different ages, mammary gland densities and hormone levels. The sensitivity of DBT and FFDM was compared between the groups with different pathological types and different sizes of breast cancer. The correlation between the longest diameter of breast cancers and pathological measurements shown on DBT and FFDM was analyzed.@*Results@#The areas under ROC curves were 0.890, 0.833 and 0.890 for DBT, FFDM and DBT plus FFDM, respectively. The areas under ROC curves for DBT or DBT plus FFDM were significantly greater than that for FFDM (P<0.05). In the group with breast density>50%, group with age ≤50 and non-menopause group, all the areas under ROC curves for DBT or DBT plus FFDM were all significantly larger than that for FFDM (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the group with breast density ≤50%, group with age>50 and menopause group (P>0.05). The sensitivity for both DBT and FFDM in the diagnosis of carcinoma in situ was 90.9% (10/11). The sensitivity for DBT and FFDM in the diagnosis of non-carcinoma in situ was 92.3% (120/130) and 83.8% (109/130), respectively. The sensitivity in the groups with the longest diameter of foci >0 mm but ≤10 mm, >10 mm but ≤20 mm, >20 mm but ≤30 mm, and >30 mm but ≤40 mm were 51.7% (4/7), 93.8% (61/65), 96.7% (30/31) and 100% (11/11), respectively, for DBT, and were 51.7% (4/7), 78.5% (51/65), 93.5% (29/31), and 100% (11/11), respectively, for FFDM. The correlation coefficients between the longest diameter of breast cancers and pathological measurements shown on DBT and FFDM were 0.905 and 0.849, respectively (P<0.001).@*Conclusions@#Compared with FFDM, DBT shows a higher diagnostic efficiency in patients with breast density >50%, age ≤50 years and non-menopause, non-carcinoma in situ, and the longest diameter of lesions >10 mm but ≤ 20 mm. The longest diameter of breast lesions is more accurately shown on DBT.

MRI texture analysis in prediction of treatment response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the value of MRI texture analysis (TA) in prediction of treatment response neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in locally advanced rectal cancer patients. Methods Fifty nine histopathologically-proven rectal adenocarcinoma patients through biopsy treated with nCRT before total mesorectal excision were enrolled in this retrospective study.The first MRI examination (pre-nCRT MRI)was performed before nCRT,and the second one(early nCRT MRI)was performed at the third week of nCRT. The texture parameters values were measured, including mean value, standard deviation, skewness, kurtosis, uniformity, energy, and entropy. Tumoral downstaging was determined by comparing the pre-nCRT clinical T stage(cT stage) with the ypT stage. The patients were divided into downstaging and non downstaging group based on postoperative T staging. Parameters were compared between pre-and early nCRT in terms of averages using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Downstaging and non downstaging groups were analyzed using Mann-Whitney U test.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed using the statistically significant parameters between the two groups as independent variables. ROC analysis was performed on the new independent variables obtained by multi-parameter logistic regression analysis and the single parameter independent variables. The diagnostic efficiency of the parameters were evaluated. Results T-downstaging were found in 28 patients after nCRT. The stdDeviation, kurtosis, and uniformity were significantly different between pre-and early nCRT (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in mean value, skewness, energy, and entropy between pre-and early nCRT (P>0.05). The pre-nCRT, uniformity, energy, entropy and the early nCRT mean value, entropy were significantly different in patients with downstaging vs. non downstaging (P<0.05). For the pre-nCRT stdDeviation,uniformity,energy,entropy and the early nCRT mean value,entropy,ROC analysis showed an area under curve(AUC) of 0.69, 0.76, 0.68, 0.67 and 0.65, 0.68, respectively. The multivariate logistic regression analysis for the four pre-nCRT independent variables(stdDeviation,uniformity,energy,entropy) achieved logical variable 1,and the logical variable 1 achieved an AUC of 0.78 to discriminate patients with T-downstaging from patients with non downstaging.The multivariate logistic regression analysis for the two early nCRT independent variables(mean value,entropy)achieved logical variable 2,and the logical variable 2 achieved an AUC of 0.69 to predict T-downstaging.Conclusion Pre-and early nCRT MRI TA in rectal cancer have the efficacy to predict treatment response.

The value of multi-parameters MRI of tongue carcinoma in predicting cervical node metastases / 中华放射学杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to determine whether multi?parameters MRI of tongue carcinoma have the potential to predict cervical lymph node metastases. Methods A total of 46 patients with tongue carcinoma, who underwent MRI scan preoperatively, were investigated retrospectively and were divided into cervical lymph node (LN) metastases group (unilateral LN+, n=16;bilateral LN+, n=14) and no cervical lymph node metastases group (LN-, n=16) according to their pathological grading. Of the 40 patients with tongue carcinoma underwent plain and contrast MRI scan, 6 patients have plain MRI scan, and 32 have DWI examination.The ADC value, tumor length, tumor thickness, sublingual distance between tumor and sublingual space, and para?lingual distance between tumor and tongue midlinedetermined from MRI, were preoperatively estimated and compared with the pathological findings of cervical lymph nodes. A unpaired t test was used to analyze normal distributed continuous data, and a Mann?Whitney U test was used to analyze abnormally distributeddata. The ROC was used to evaluate the efficacy of MRI in predicting the metastasis of cervical lymph nodes. Results The indexes of ADC value, tumor length, tumor thickness, and para?lingual distance between tumor and tongue midline, which all showed significant difference between LN+group and LN-group (all P0.05). The index of ADC value showed significant difference between unilateral LN+group and bilateral LN+group (P0.05). The ROC curve analysis of the ADC value, tumor length, tumor thickness, and para?lingual distance between tumor and tongue midline of the neck lymph node metastasis were carried out, with the cutoff set as 1.13×10?3 mm2/s, 31.08 mm, 17.33 mm and-2.26 mm. The corresponding area under curve(AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were 0.878, 90.9%and 90.0%; 0.822, 83.3% and 81.3%; 0.834, 86.7% and 81.3%; 0.794, 86.7% and 75.0%, respectively. The ROC curve analysis of the ADC of the bilateral neck lymph node metastasis was also carried out, with the cutoff of ADC value set as 1.07×10?3 mm2/s, the corresponding AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were 0.806, 80.0%and 75.0%. Conclusion The ADC value, tumor length ,tumor thickness and para?lingual distance between tumor and tongue midline,determined from MR imaging, all can be used as independent factors in predicting cervical lymph node metastasis, where ADC value may be helpful to predict bilateral neck lymph node metastasis.

CT features of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To summarize the CT features of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC).Methods CT manifestations of 12 patients with ATC confirmed by surgery or biopsy were analyzed retrospectively.Results 1 1 (91.7%)patients had single lesion. The lesions appeared as low attenuation mass with cord-like,flocculent or patchy high attenuation areas.The lesions had mild to moderate enhancement in 1 1 cases (91.7%).Coarse calcifications were detected in 8 cases (66.7%),4 of them were incomplete rim or eggshell.11 cases (91.7%)showed invasion into adjacent structures,including trachea (6 cases,50%),esophagus (4 cases,33.3%),strap muscles (7 cases,58.3%),larynx (2 cases,1 6.7%),blood vessels (6 cases,50%).5 cases (41.7%)had tumor thrombus in the internal jugular vein.10 cases (83.3%)had lymph nodes metastasis.The enhancements of lymph nodes were divided into 3 types:mild homogeneous enhancement (4 cases,40%),mild enhancement with internal low-attenuation areas (7 cases,70%)and ring-like enhancement without internal enhancement (7 cases,70%).Conclusion CT features of ATC include low-density mass with cords,flocculent and patchy high-density areas,coarse calcification and mild to moderate enhancement,invasion to adjacent structure and lymph node metastasis with necrosis are common.

Spectral parameters analysis of pathologic differentiation of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the discrepancy of parameters generated on dual-energy spectral CT (DECT)imaging in the different pathological grade of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LHSCC),and to provide helpful information of the prognosis and the guide of clinical treatment.Methods 61 patients with pathologically confirmed LHSCC who underwent contrastenhanced DECT before therapy were retrospectively analyzed.The enhanced monochromatic data were analyzed with workstation.Iodine concentration of lesion (IC),water concentration of lesion (WC)and slope of spectral HU curve (s-SHC)were acquired.According to cell differentiation,all patients were divided into well,moderately and poorly differentiated groups.The difference of IC,WC,s-SHC,constituent ratio of T stage were compared among different groups.Results The IC and s-SHC had significant difference among well,moderately and poorly differentiated groups(F =3.56,3.96 respectively,P 0.05).There were no significant difference of WC among three groups respectively (H =0.84,P >0.05).χ2 test showed that there was no significant difference for the constituent ratio of T stage among three groups (P >0.05).Conclusion IC and s-SHC can help to judge the pathological grade of LHSCC,and they may be useful to evaluate the prognosis of LHSCC.

Value of apparent diffusion coefficient values in predicting induction chemotherapy response of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To predict the response of induction chemotherapy in advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC)by using pretreat-ment apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)values.Methods 35 patients with advanced NPC underwent DWI examination prior to 2-week in-duction chemotherapy.The patients were divided into CR (complete response)group,PR (partial response)one and SD (stable disease)one according to the tumor response of treatment.The effective responders included CR and PR groups.The patients were divided into children-adolescents(below 20 years)group and adults one according to the age,into non-keratinizing undifferentiated carcinoma group and non-kera-tinizing differentiated carcinoma one according to the pathological type,and also into T2,T3 and T4 groups according to the T-staging (UICC2010).Statistical analysis was used to compare the pretreatment ADC values between different groups.Results The average pre-treatment ADC values of CR,PR,responders and SD groups were (0.70±0.06)×10 -3 mm2/s,(0.72±0.04)×10 -3 mm2/s,(0.71± 0.04)×10 -3 mm2/s and (0.85±0.02)×10 -3 mm2/s respectively.The average pretreatment ADC value of the SD group was signif-icantly higher than that of PR group and responders,and the differences were significant (P <0.05).The average pretreatment ADC value of children-adolescents and adults groups were (0.73±0.07)×10 -3 mm2/s and (0.75 ±0.07)× 10 -3 mm2/s,which showed no significant differences.The average pretreatment ADC value of non-keratinizing undifferentiated carcinoma and non-keratinizing dif-ferentiated carcinoma groups were (0.76 ±0.08)×10 -3 mm2/s and (0.74±0.06)×10 -3 mm2/s,which showed no significant differ-ences.The average pretreatment ADC values of T2,T3 and T4 groups were (0.78±0.05)×10 -3 mm2/s,(0.77 ±0.07)×10 -3 mm2/s and (0.75±0.08)×10 -3 mm2/s.Although there were no significant differences between T2,T3 and T4 groups,a trend towards lower ADC was observed with increasing tumor T-staging.Conclusion Pretreatment ADC value is a valuable quantitative parameter,and it can be used for predicting induction chemotherapy response in advanced naso-pharyngeal carcinoma.

CT and MR findings of retroperitoneal ectopic pheochromocytoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the CT and MR findings of retroperitoneal ectopic pheochromocytoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To analyze retrospectively the CT and MR images of 32 patients with retroperitoneal ectopic pheochromocytoma proved by pathology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The lesions (benign=28, malignant=4) were located in the anterior pararenal space (ARS) (n=12), the perirenal space (PS) (n=13) and the posterior pararenal space (PRS) (n=7). The tumors showed heterogeneous density on unenhanced CT (n=25). Among the 23 cases with enhanced CT imaging, 19 cases had marked contrast and 4 had mild contrast. The enhancement patterns included whole enhancement (n=9), solid area enhancement (n=12), peripheral enhancement (n=1), and spotted enhancement (n=1). The tumors had heterogeneous signal on unenhanced MR (n=23), and usually showed enhancement at arterial, portal and delayed phases on 22 enhanced MR, while cystic area with no enhancement. The lesions usually had cystic changes (n=18), septa (n=16), vessels inside (n=9), hemorrhage (n=3), and calcification (n=3). Besides that the morphology had statistical significance (P=0.013), other indexes had no statistical significance (P>0.05) in differential diagnosis of benign and malignant retroperitoneal ectopic pheochromocytomas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Retroperitoneal ectopic pheochromocytomas have some CT and MR features, usually revealed as an oval mass, growing along the paravertebral axis, and often with cystic changes. Those signs combined with hypertension and elevated catecholamine level may lead to a correct diagnosis.</p>

Value of quantitative iodine-based material decomposition images with gemstone spectral CT imaging in the follow-up of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after TACE treatment / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of quantitative iodine-based material decomposition images with gemstone spectral CT imaging in the follow-up of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after transcatheter arterial chemoebolization (TACE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Consecutive 32 HCC patients with previous TACE treatment were included in this study. For the follow-up, arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP) dual-phase CT scans were performed with a single-source dual-energy CT scanner (Discovery CT 750HD, GE Healthcare). Iodine concentrations were derived from iodine-based material-decomposition images in the liver parenchyma, tumors and coagulation necrosis (CN) areas. The iodine concentration difference (ICD) between the arterial-phase (AP) and venal-phase (VP) were quantitatively evaluated in different tissues.The lesion-to-normal parenchyma iodine concentration ratio (LNR) was calculated. ROC analysis was performed for the qualitative evaluation, and the area under ROC (Az) was calculated to represent the diagnostic ability of ICD and LNR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In all the 32 HCC patients, the region of interesting (ROI) for iodine concentrations included liver parenchyma (n=42), tumors (n=28) and coagulation necrosis (n=24). During the AP the iodine concentration of CNs (median value 0.088 µg/mm(3)) appeared significantly higher than that of the tumors (0.064 µg/mm(3), P=0.022) and liver parenchyma (0.048 µg/mm(3), P=0.005). But it showed no significant difference between liver parenchyma and tumors (P=0.454). During the VP the iodine concentration in hepatic parenchyma (median value 0.181 µg/mm(3)) was significantly higher than that in CNs (0.140 µg/mm(3), P=0.042). There was no significant difference between liver parenchyma and tumors, CNs and tumors (both P>0.05). The median value of ICD in CNs was 0.006 µg/mm(3), significantly lower than that of the HCC (0.201 µg/mm(3), P<0.001) and hepatic parenchyma (0.117 µg/mm(3), P<0.001). The ICDs in tumors and hepatic parenchyma showed no significant difference (P=0.829). During the AP, the LNR had no significant difference between CNs and tumors (a median value 1.805 vs. 1.310, P=0.389), and during the VP, the difference was also non-significant (the median value 0.647 vs. 0.713, P=0.660). The mean Az value of ICDs for evaluation of surviving tumor tissues was 0.804, whiles LNR measured a disappointing result in both AV images and VP images.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Quantitative iodine-based material decomposition images with gemstone spectral CT imaging can improve the diagnostic efficacy of CT imaging for HCC patients after TACE treatment.</p>

Performance of ultrasonography for the preoperative staging of papillary thyroid carcinoma / 中华医学超声杂志（电子版）

Objective To evaluate the performance of ultrasonography (US) for the preoperative staging of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods One hundred and twenty-one patients with cytologically proven PTC were prospectively collected. Patients were recruited at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Cancer Hospital from January 2014 to November 2014. Preoperative US was performed for the evaluation of primary tumor size, extrathyroidal extension and neck lymph node metastasis according to the 6th UICC TNM staging system. Results The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predicative value (NPV) of US in predicting extrathyroidal extension were 89.6%(60/67), 72.2%(39/54), 80.0%(60/75), 84.8%(39/46), respectively. The accuracies of preoperative US for T1, T2, T3, T4 stage were 75.0%(36/48), 100%(1/1), 81.9%(59/72), 0, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of US in predicting neck lymph node metastasis were 47.5%(29/61), 90.0%(54/60), 82.9%(29/35), 62.8%(54/86), respectively. Conclusion Ultrasonography is a feasible tool for preoperative staging of PTC and is helpful for accurate prediction of extrathyroidal tumor extension and lateral neck lymph node metastasis.

Feasibility study on application of gemstone spectral CT material suppressed iodine as virtual non-contrast CT scan in head and neck neoplasms / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of applying spectral CT material suppressed iodine (MSI) imaging as virtual plain CT scan to replace traditional non-contrast (TNC) CT in head and neck neoplasms. Methods A total of 52 patients with initial diagnosis of head and neck neoplasms underwent TNC CT scanning and spectrum mode enhanced scanning in the head and neck with spectral CT. With GSI Volume Viewer software from GE AW4.6 workstation, the enhanced scanning data were processed and MSI images were acquired. The CT values of different tissues (fat, erector spinae, cervical vertebrae, thyroid, and brain parenchyma) and the enhancement rate in erector spinae, carotid sinus were compared between MSI and TNC images. Image quality was objectively evaluated in noise and SNR for MSI and TNC images, while the subjective evaluation included the visibility of lesions, subjective acceptance rate, diagnostic efficacy (with/without lesions or lesion calcification, necrosis). Radiation dose including volume CT dose index (CTDIvol) and effective dose (ED) was compared between MSI and TNC. Results (1) CT values of erector spinae on MSI and TNC imaging were(52 ± 6)and(52 ± 7)HU respectively, and the difference between the two image modes was not significant(t=0.39,P>0.05). CT values on MSI and TNC Imaging were[-74 (-86,-59)HU]and[-79(-73,-61)HU]for fat (Z=-2.71, P0.05). The difference of carotid sinus enhancement rate was significant 5.75(4.70,6.73) and 4.37(3.91,5.61) respectively, Z=-5.50, P0.05).Unacceptable and acceptable cases in imaging quality of MSI were 3 and 49 respectively, while those were 2 and 50 in TNC group. Subjective acceptance rate between MST and TNC images was not significantly different(?2=0.01,P>0.05). (5) Diagnostic performance evaluation showed that the consistency of two observers was good in detecting lesions, necrosis and calcification between MSI and TNC image, with K value 0.93, 0.83 and 0.90 respectively (P<0.05). (6) Radiation doses between pure energy spectrum enhanced mode and conventional pre plus post contrast enhanced mode were compared. And differences of CTDIvol[11.78(10.98,17.30) mGy]and[23.89 (22.42, 29.98) mGy] respectively],ED [1.89(1.63,2.29) mSv]and[3.77(3.21,4.16 ) mSv] respectively] were significant(Z=-6.28, P<0.05). Pure energy spectrum enhanced mode reduced 39.07% of CTDIvol and 45.75%of ED respectively. Conclusions MSI imaging can be a potential substitute for TNC imaging. And it has clinical values in the diagnosis of head and neck neoplasms.

Evaluation with low-dose dual-phase helical computed tomography of patients with thyroid lesions / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The incidence of thyroid cancer has been increasing. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose dual-phase helical computed tomography (CT) in the characterization of thyroid lesions, and to discuss the relationship between image characteristics and their pathology.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and six patients with thyroid lesions underwent low-dose dual-phase helical CT after the injection of contrast material. CT scans were obtained at arterial and venous phase with delays of 25 and 65 seconds, and tube current of 60 and 120 mA, respectively. The attenuation change in the lesion between the arterial and venous phase was analyzed and categorized as "increased," "decreased," "mixed" or "no change."</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Histopathologic diagnosis was obtained by surgery in 106 patients (115 lesions). Of the 106 patients, 45 had nodular goiter, 5 thyroid adenoma, 6 thyroiditis, and 50 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (59 lesions). The attenuation value showed a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the arterial and venous phase for the high attenuation area. There was statistical significant difference in terms of attenuation value in high attenuation areas at both phases and in low attenuation areas on arterial phase between nodular goiter and PTC (P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in attenuation value between adenoma and PTC. Twenty-nine cases (76.3%) of goiter manifested mixed type, 3 cases (3/5) of adenoma showed decreased type, 6 cases (6/6) of thyroiditis showed increased type, and 55 cases (93.2%) of PTC showed decreased type attenuation. The sensitivity, specificity for thyroid carcinoma by dual-phase CT were 94.9% and 80.4% respectively. The overall diagnostic accuracy for thyroid lesions by dual-phase CT was 87.8%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The performance of dual-phase helical CT is related to the pathological structure of the lesions. The analysis of enhancement patterns by using dual-phase helical CT will be helpful in the differential diagnosis of thyroid lesions.</p>