Functional CT of squamous cell carcinoma in the head and neck: repeatability of tumor and muscle quantitative measurements, inter- and intra-observer agreement

Abstract

Our purpose was to determine the repeatability of squamous cell cancer in head and neck (SCCHN) and muscle tissue vascularity measurements as well as the inter- and intra-observer agreement using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) multi-detector CT (MDCT). Twelve patients with histologically proven SCCHN were twice examined within 46 h. Measurement error and repeatability were assessed for each of the four functional parameters using the Bland-Altman plots. Two independent observers recorded the vascularity values of the tumor tissue; inter- and intra-observer agreement was assessed using the Bland-Altman plot analysis and intraclass correlation coefficients. For the tumor, the mean difference (95% limits of agreement) was 0.40 ml/min/100 g tissue (-6.80, 9.60); 0.01 (-0.96, 0.97) ml/100 g tissue; 0.20 (-1.80, 2.30) s; and 0.40 (-2.00, 2.80) ml/min/100 g tissue for BF, BV, MTT, and PS, respectively. For the muscle, the mean difference (95% limits of agreement) was -0.18 (-1.70, 1.35), 0.04 (-1.17, 1.35), -0.10 (-5.80, 5.60), and -0.10 (-2.20, 2.00), respectively. Measurement changes of at least +/-8%, 30%, 36%, and 13% were found to be significant for BF, BV, MTT, and PS, respectively. There was better intra- than inter-observer agreement.

Dynamic Contrast-enhanced CT for Prostate Cancer: Relationship between Image Noise, Voxel Size, and Repeatability

“…Repeatability studies of DCE CT for ROIs in colorectal tumors and squamous cell carcinomas yield wCVs ranging from 3% to 35% ( 26,27 ), which is comparable to our results. A broader range of ROI-based repeatability values is reported for DCE MR imaging.…”

Changes in Perfusion CT of Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck Treated during the Course of Concomitant Chemoradiotherapy

“…12 Our hypothesis that PCT can detect changes in perfusion parameters during the course of the therapy implies a good repeatability of the PCT, which was not assessed in our patients, as this repeatability has previously proven to be satisfactory to excellent. 24 The design of our study did not allow an estimation of locoregional tumor control after 1 or 2 years, which is certainly a more reliable criterion of therapy effectiveness and justifies the predictive value of the PCT. Nonetheless, our next step is to follow these patients and evaluate the predictive role of PCT in our future studies.…”

Perfusion CT in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Upper Aerodigestive Tract: Long-Term Predictive Value of Baseline Perfusion CT Measurements

“…An example of BF-BV mismatch is shown in Fig 3. Discussion PCT appears as a robust, reproducible, widely accessible, and promising method for the assessment of functional parameters on the tissue level. 7,11,14 Because of clinical study results showing that long-term follow-up (2-3 years) is necessary for determining the local control rate of SCCA in the head and neck, 15 the present work focused on a long follow-up in a large patient population receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation.…”