Project description:BackgroundTo evaluate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) attenuation in mediastinal lymph node metastases of malignant tumors.MethodsA retrospective review was conducted of a Chinese institutional database of consecutive patients with a history of malignant tumors. Those who had enlarged, necrotic, or hypermetabolic lymph nodes detected in the mediastinum during routine CT examination or positron emission tomography (PET)/CT imaging from January 2019 to December 2021 were collected for investigation. All patients underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) and were followed up for at least 6 months to diagnose lymph node metastases. One-to-one correlation was attempted between the CT images of the lymph nodes and EBUS-TBNA area of the same lymph node groups and similar size. Radiologists measured size, as well as plain CT and contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) attenuation values of mediastinal lymph nodes, and evaluated the effectiveness of these variables in diagnosing lymph node metastasis.ResultsA total of 135 lymph nodes of 114 patients were included in the study. In the univariate analysis, the long-axis diameter, short-axis diameter, short-axis/long-axis ratio, and plain CT attenuation values of lymph nodes were found to be statistically significantly different between the metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes. The areas under receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves (AUCs) of long-axis diameter, short-axis diameter, short-axis/long-axis ratio, and plain CT attenuation value for diagnosing metastases were 0.711, 0.788, 0.671, and 0.827, respectively. The best value of the AUC for diagnosing lymph node metastases was 0.827 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.749-0.890] using plain CT attenuation value ≤45 Hounsfield units (HU). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were 92.8%, 69.2%, 86.5%, and 81.8%, respectively. Similar results were obtained from the 68 cases of lung cancer. Plain CT attenuation values reached the best AUC (0.860) for diagnosing lymph node metastases.ConclusionsPlain CT attenuation of lymph nodes is an effective method for diagnosing enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes with a history of multiple malignancies or lung cancer. Plain CT could be used as an additional test where there is no PET/CT available in cases of diagnostic dilemma.
Project description:ObjectiveEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration is of diagnostic value in hilar/mediastinal (N1/N2) lymph node staging. We assessed the utility of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in lung cancer patients with N1/N2 lymph nodes detected on (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.MethodsFifty lung cancer patients with N1/N2 disease on (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography underwent endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for pathological lymph nodes between November 2012 and April 2015. The diagnostic performance of endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration, lymph node site and size, number of needle passes and complications were evaluated retrospectively from patients' medical records. Malignancy was defined as a maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) >2.5.ResultsThe median longest diameter of the 61 lymph nodes (29 subcarinal, 21 right lower paratracheal, 6 left lower paratracheal, 4 right hilar and 1 upper paratracheal) was 23.4 mm (range: 10.4-45.7); the median number of needle passes was 2 (range: 1-5). There were no severe complications. A definitive diagnosis was made by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration in 39 patients (31 adenocarcinomas, 3 small-cell carcinomas, 2 squamous-cell carcinomas, 3 large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas). In the remaining 11 patients, the diagnosis was indefinite: insufficient endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration material was collected in two patients and non-specific lymphadenopathy was confirmed by endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration or thoracotomy in the other nine patients. The mean lymph node SUVmax was 7.09 (range: 2.90-26.9) and was significantly higher in true-positive than in false-positive nodes (P < 0.05, t-test). Non-specific lymphadenopathy was diagnosed by expert visual interpretation of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography images in five of the nine patients.ConclusionEndobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration accurately diagnoses N1/N2 disease detected on (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography.
Project description:Although a substantial decrease in 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) indicates a promising metabolic response to treatment, predicting the pathologic status of lymph nodes (LN) remains challenging. We investigated the potential of a CT radiomics approach to predict the pathologic complete response of LNs showing residual uptake after neoadjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (NeoCCRT) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Two hundred and thirty-seven patients who underwent NeoCCRT for stage IIIa NSCLC were included. Two hundred fifty-two CT radiomics features were extracted from LNs showing remaining positive FDG uptake upon restaging PET-CT. A multivariable logistic regression analysis of radiomics features and clinicopathologic characteristics was used to develop a prediction model. Of the 237 patients, 135 patients (185 nodes) met our inclusion criteria. Eighty-seven LNs were proven to be malignant (47.0%, 87/185). Upon multivariable analysis, metastatic LNs were significantly prevalent in females and patients with adenocarcinoma (odds ratio (OR) = 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.88-4.62 and OR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.19-0.77 each). Metastatic LNs also had a larger maximal 3D diameter and higher cluster tendency (OR = 9.92, 95% CI = 3.15-31.17 and OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.22-4.55 each). The predictive model for metastasis showed a discrimination performance with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.728 (95% CI = 0.654-0.801, p value < 0.001). The radiomics approach allows for the noninvasive detection of metastases in LNs with residual FDG uptake after the treatment of NSCLC patients.
Project description:BackgroundAccurate diagnosis of mediastinal lymph node (LN) metastases is very important for the treatment and prognosis in lung cancer patients. Spectral computed tomography (CT), as a non-invasive approach, has good prospects for detecting mediastinal nodal metastasis. However, the diagnostic criteria of differentiating metastatic and nonmetastatic LNs have not been determined.MethodsClinical and imaging data of 64 lung cancer patients (mean age 61.3±10.3 years, 41 men) from April to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The unenhanced scan and contrast enhanced arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP) spectral CT scans were performed. The 70 keV monochromatic image and iodine-based image in all phases were analyzed to measure the parameters of LNs. LNs were divided into the metastatic and non-metastatic groups based on confirmative pathological results, and their differences were statistically analyzed. The receiver operating characteristics curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of the differential diagnosis.ResultsSeventy-four metastatic LNs and 152 non-metastatic LNs were obtained. Compared with non-metastatic LNs, metastatic LNs often had a larger size (P<0.001). In the unenhanced scans, the density of metastatic LNs was lower than that of non-metastatic LNs (P<0.001); however, there was no difference in CT value in AP and VP between metastatic and non-metastatic LNs (P=0.07, P=0.08, respectively). A statistically significant difference was found in iodine concentration (IC), normalized iodine concentration (NIC) and slope of the spectral curve (λHU) in unenhanced scan, IC and λHU in AP, as well as IC, NIC and λHU in VP between metastatic and non-metastatic LNs. There was no difference in NIC in AP between them.ConclusionsCombined with morphology, spectral CT quantitative parameters demonstrate certain diagnostic efficiency for differential diagnosis between metastatic and non-metastatic LNs in lung cancer patients.
Project description:Proper staging of the mediastinum is an essential component of lung cancer evaluation. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PETCT) and endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) are an integral part of this process. False-positive PETCT results can occur following surgical procedures but has not been demonstrated following EBUS-TBNA. We aimed to determine whether false-positive PETCT rates increase when EBUS-TBNA is performed prior to PETCT. A retrospective review was carried out of clinical cases that underwent both PETCT and EBUS-TBNA within 30 days for the suspected malignancy. The impact of test sequence on the PETCT false-positive rate (FPR) was determined using Generalised Estimating Equation logistic regression analysis. A total of 675 lymph node stations were sampled and imaged on PETCT. Overall, 332 (49.2%) nodes were sampled by EBUS-TBNA before PETCT, and 343 (50.8%) afterwards, with the interval between EBUS and subsequent PETCT being a mean±sd of 11.6±6.8 days (range 1-29). The FPR on qualitative PETCT for the EBUS first group was 41 (23.2%) out of 164, and for PETCT first it was 57 (29.0%) out of 193 for a difference of 5.8% (95% CI -3.4-14.7, p=0.22). In the regression model, EBUS as the first test was associated with a lower FPR when using the clinical PETCT interpretation. The performance of EBUS-TBNA sampling did not influence the FPR of PETCT when bronchoscopy took place in the 30 days prior to testing. Test sequence should be selected based on other clinical considerations.
Project description:Background and objectiveMediastinal lymph node (LN) staging in individuals with non-small-cell lung cancer plays an important role in staging and treatment planning. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) texture analysis (CTTA) in differentiating benign and malignant mediastinal LNs.MethodsPathologically confirmed malignant and benign mediastinal LN samples, obtained using endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA), were retrospectively reviewed, in addition to chest CT and 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake positron emission tomography (PET) data. For each LN, CTTA was performed using "AVIEW" software (Coreline Soft, Republic of Korea) by drawing a region of interest.ResultsA total of 132 LNs from 80 patients were included and classified into two groups according to pathology results: malignant (n = 61) and benign (n = 71). In EBUS, size > 1 cm, round shape, heterogeneous echogenicity, and presence of coagulation necrosis sign were more prevalent in malignant than in benign LNs; length was the only feature that distinguished the two groups. Among CTTA features, compactness and normalized standard deviation (SD) showed differences between the two groups. The ability to distinguish malignant LNs was higher using high standard uptake value (SUV) on FDG PET/CT (SUVmax ≥ 5) and normalized SD on CTTA (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.739 versus 0.742, respectively); however, normalized SD demonstrated very low sensitivity despite high specificity.ConclusionsCTTA may be helpful in distinguishing between benign and malignant LNs; however, the diagnostic value was not high. Therefore, integrated evaluation with other imaging modalities is needed.
Project description:AimsThis study evaluated the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT) for the treatment of patients with oligometastases or oligorecurrence within mediastinal lymph nodes (MLNs) originating from different tumors.MethodsBetween October 2006 and May 2015, patients with MLN oligometastases or oligorecurrence were enrolled and treated with SRT at our hospital. The primary endpoint was MLN local control (LC). Secondary endpoints were time to symptom alleviation, overall survival (OS) after SRT, and toxicity using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v4.0).ResultsEighty-five patients with 98 MLN oligometastases or oligorecurrences were treated with SRT. For the entire cohort, the 1-year and 5-year actuarial LC rates were 97% and 77%, respectively. Of 53 symptomatic patients, symptom alleviation was observed in 47 (89%) after a median of 5 days (range, 3-30 days). The median OS was 27.2 months for all patients. For patients with non-small cell lung cancer, univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that a shorter interval between diagnosis of primary tumors and SRT and larger MLN SRT volume were associated with worse OS. CTCAE v4.0 ? Grade 3 toxicities occurred in six patients (7%), with Grade 5 in three patients (all with RT history to MLN station 7).ConclusionsSRT is a safe and efficacious treatment modality for patients with oligometastases or oligorecurrence to MLNs originating from different tumors, except for patients who received radiotherapy to MLN station 7. Further investigation is warranted to identify the patients who benefit most from this treatment modality.
Project description:We aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for the spread of disease to inguinal lymph nodes in vulvar cancer. A retrospective review of vulvar cancer patients who underwent both inguinal nodal sampling and dissection as well as FDG PET-CT was performed, with 21 patients meeting criteria. The sensitivity and specificity of the FDG PET-CT imaging was performed using a combination of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). Using an SUVmaxcutoff of 4.5 or of two times the average liver uptake, we had a 100% sensitivity and 89% specificity for positive inguinal nodes. MTV and TLG did not add to sensitivity or specificity. We conclude that FDG PET-CT has good sensitivity for inguinal nodal spread in vulvar cancer, and either a quantitative or semiquantitative approach is effective.