Role of dual-energy computed tomography in detecting early recurrences of lung tumours treated with radiofrequency ablation

Abstract

Purpose: Detecting a recurrence after lung radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is based on a group of arguments that include CT, positron emission tomography (PET-CT) at 3 months and clinical patient follow-up. There is no one examination that is absolutely reliable. Recurrences are diagnosed tardily, when the cancers are locally extended, or when the patients are metastatic. The purpose of this article is to investigate the utility of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) in order to assess therapeutic responses to RFA for lung neoplasia.

Materials and methods: This institutional review board-approved study enroled 70 patients with lung tumours who underwent DECT after RFA. All patients provided a written informed consent for the study.

Results: The study included 70 consecutive patients, and 191 DECT measures were performed. We collected the enhancement values of all scars without establishing a prior threshold of positivity. The optimal threshold value areas appeared to be located between 20 and 35 Hounsfield unit (HU) with sensitivity between 70% and 82%; specificity between 72% and 90%; a negative predictive value (NPV) between 96% and 97% and a diagnostic accuracy index between 73% and 87%.

At the one month follow-up, 53 nodules were analysed with DECT and four nodules had recurred, all of which were detected by DECT. The sensitivity, which was calculated at 100%, was excellent; the NPV was at 100% (CI: 91.62, 100) and the specificity was at 85.71% (CI: 73.33, 92.9). The diagnostic accuracy index was 86.79% (CI: 75.16, 93.45) and the average DECT acquisitions dosimetry was 106 mGy.cm (33mGy.cm 245mGy.cm).

Conclusion: DECT could be a conceivable alternative for detecting early recurrence after lung RFA.

Key points

• After lung RFA, a PET CT has a high rate of false positives in the initial phase;

• The study of enhancement in the follow-up of lung lesions treated with RFA, and especially by DECT, can be relevant;

• Dual Energy CT has a good efficiency for a threshold between 20 and 35 HU, especially in the first month after RFA;

• DECT could be a conceivable alternative for detecting early recurrence.

Keywords:

• Radiology
• interventional
• radiofrequency treatment
• lung
• dual energy CT

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.