Suyon Chang1, Jin Hur2, Dong Jin Im1, Young Joo Suh1, Yoo Jin Hong1, Hye-Jeong Lee1, Young Jin Kim1, Kyunghwa Han3, Dae Joon Kim4, Chang Young Lee4, Ha Young Shin5, Byoung Wook Choi1. 1. Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-752, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-752, Seoul, Republic of Korea. khuhz@yuhs.ac. 3. Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Radiology, Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 4. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Neurology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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.
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.
Authors: Suyon Chang; Jin Hur; Dong Jin Im; Young Joo Suh; Yoo Jin Hong; Hye-Jeong Lee; Young Jin Kim; Byoung Wook Choi Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2015-12-05 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Cesar A Moran; Annikka Weissferdt; Neda Kalhor; Luisa M Solis; Carmen Behrens; Ivan I Wistuba; Saul Suster Journal: Am J Clin Pathol Date: 2012-03 Impact factor: 2.493