Volume-based Quantification Using Dual-energy Computed Tomography in the Differentiation of Thymic Epithelial Tumours: an Initial Experience

Overview

Journal Eur Radiol

Specialty Radiology

Date 2016 Aug 25

PMID 27553938

Citations 18

Authors

Suyon Chang

Jin Hur

Dong Jin Im

Young Joo Suh

Yoo Jin Hong

Hye-Jeong Lee

Young Jin Kim

Kyunghwa Han

Dae Joon Kim

Chang Young Lee

Ha Young Shin

Byoung Wook Choi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the diagnostic value of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in differentiating between low- and high-risk thymomas and thymic carcinomas.

Materials: Our institutional review board approved this study, and patients provided informed consent. We prospectively enrolled 37 patients (20 males, mean age: 55.6 years) with thymic epithelial tumour. All patients underwent DECT. For quantitative analysis, two reviewers measured the following tumour parameters: CT attenuation value in contrast Hounsfield units (CHU), iodine-related HU and iodine concentration (mg/ml). Pathological results confirmed the final diagnosis.

Results: Of the 37 thymic tumours, 23 (62.2 %) were low-risk thymomas, five (13.5 %) were high-risk thymomas and nine (24.3 %) were thymic carcinomas. According to quantitative analysis, iodine-related HU and iodine concentration were significantly different among low-risk thymomas, high-risk thymomas and thymic carcinomas (median: 29.78 HU vs. 14.55 HU vs. 19.95 HU, p = 0.001 and 1.92 mg/ml vs. 0.99 mg/ml vs. 1.18 mg/ml, p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: DECT using a quantitative analytical method based on iodine concentration measurement can be used to differentiate among thymic epithelial tumours using single-phase scanning.

Key Points: • IHU and IC were lower in high-risk thymomas/carcinomas than in low-risk thymomas • IHU and IC were lower in advanced-stage thymomas than in early-stage thymomas • Dual-energy CT helps differentiate among thymic epithelial tumours.

Citing Articles

Multilocular thymic cysts- a diagnostic challenge on computed tomography.

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Iodine Density of Lymphoma, Metastatic SCCA, and Normal Cervical lymph nodes: A Comparative Analysis Based on DLSCT.

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Imaging evaluation of thymic tumors.

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Usefulness of Three-Dimensional Iodine Mapping Quantified by Dual-Energy CT for Differentiating Thymic Epithelial Tumors.

Doi S, Yanagawa M, Matsui T, Hata A, Kikuchi N, Yoshida Y J Clin Med. 2023; 12(17).

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Thoracic Diseases: Technique and Applications of Dual-Energy CT.

Perrella A, Bagnacci G, Di Meglio N, Di Martino V, Mazzei M Diagnostics (Basel). 2023; 13(14).

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