Radiomic analysis will add differential diagnostic value of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules: a hybrid imaging study based on [18F]FDG and [18F]FLT PET/CT

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To investigate the clinical value of radiomic analysis on [18F]FDG and [18F]FLT PET on the differentiation of [18F]FDG-avid benign and malignant pulmonary nodules (PNs). Methods Data of 113 patients with inconclusive PNs based on preoperative [18F]FDG PET/CT who underwent additional [18F]FLT PET/CT scans within a week were retrospectively analyzed in the present study. Three methods of analysis including visual analysis, radiomic analysis based on [18F]FDG PET/CT images alone, and radiomic analysis based on dual-tracer PET/CT images were evaluated for differential diagnostic value of benign and malignant PNs. Results A total of 678 radiomic features were extracted from volumes of interest (VOIs) of 123 PNs. Fourteen valuable features were thereafter selected. Based on a visual analysis of [18F]FDG PET/CT images, the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 61.6%, 90%, and 28.8%, respectively. For the test set, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of the radiomic models based on [18F]FDG PET/CT plus [18F]FLT signature were equal or better than radiomics based on [18F]FDG PET/CT only (0.838 vs 0.810, 0.778 vs 0.778, 0.750 vs 0.688, respectively). Conclusion Radiomic analysis based on dual-tracer PET/CT images is clinically promising and feasible for the differentiation between benign and malignant PNs. Clinical relevance statement Radiomic analysis will add differential diagnostic value of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules: a hybrid imaging study based on [18F]FDG and [18F]FLT PET/CT. Key points • Radiomics brings new insights into the differentiation of benign and malignant pulmonary nodules beyond the naked eyes. • Dual-tracer imaging shows the biological behaviors of cancerous cells from different aspects. • Radiomics helps us get to the histological view in a non-invasive approach. Graphical Abstract

Keywords

• Pulmonary nodules
• [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET
• [18F]fluoropyrimidine PET
• Radiomic analysis