Non-small cell lung cancer evaluated by first pass dynamic contrast-enhanced 16-slice spiral CT: correlation of tumor vascularity with pathological characteristics / 中华肿瘤杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the role of first pass dynamic 16-slice spiral computed tomography in the evaluation of tumor angiogenesis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to assess its importance in predicting pathologic characteristics.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The first pass dynamic 16-slice spiral computed tomography was performed in 33 patients with NSCLC. Their peak heights (PH) were measured with dynamic evaluation software. Their angiogenesis were labelled by anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody. The first pass peak heights (PH) in 33 patients with NSCLC were compared with their microvessel densities (MVD) and their relationships were assessed by linear regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 33 patients with NSCLCs, the mean first pass PH and MVD of N1-2 were significantly higher than those at stage No (P < 0.01). The first pass PH of 33 NSCLC was correlated positively with MVDs. To differentiate stage N0 from stage N1-2 with 12 HU cutoff value of the first pass PH, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 88.0%, 75.0%, 84.8%, 91.7% and 66.7%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The first pass dynamic contrast enhanced CT may be a predictor of tumor angiogenesis in patients with NSCLC and its pathologic characteristics, and may be helpful to improve the accuracy of lymph node staging with conventional CT.</p>