Brief Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Radiol. Apr 28, 2012; 4(4): 179-185
Published online Apr 28, 2012. doi: 10.4329/wjr.v4.i4.179
Quantitative measurement of contrast enhancement of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma on clinical MDCT
Rui Li, Tian-Wu Chen, Li-Ying Wang, Li Zhou, Hang Li, Xiao-Li Chen, Chun-Ping Li, Xiao-Ming Zhang, Ru-Hui Xiao
Rui Li, Tian-Wu Chen, Li-Ying Wang, Li Zhou, Hang Li, Xiao-Li Chen, Chun-Ping Li, Xiao-Ming Zhang, Ru-Hui Xiao, Sichuan Key Laboratory of Medical Imaging, and Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Li R, Chen TW, Wang LY, Zhou L, Li H, Chen XL, Li CP, Zhang XM and Xiao RH designed the research; Li R, Wang LY and Zhou L performed the research; Li R, Chen TW and Li CP contributed analytic tools; Li R, Chen TW, Wang LY and Zhou L analyzed the data; Li R and Chen TW wrote the paper; Li R, Chen TW, Wang LY, Zhou L, Li H, Chen XL, Li CP, Zhang XM and Xiao RH revised the paper.
Supported by The Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars of Sichuan Province, China, No. 2010JQ0039
Correspondence to: Tian-Wu Chen, Professor, Department of Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, 63 Wenhua Road, Nanchong 637000, Sichuan Province, China. twchenscu@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-817-2262236 Fax: +86-817-2262124
Received: December 22, 2011
Revised: March 5, 2012
Accepted: March 12, 2012
Published online: April 28, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) for discriminating esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) from normal esophagus and evaluating outcomes within tumors after chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

METHODS: Sixty-four patients with surgical ESCC served as group A, and underwent thoracic contrast-enhanced scan with 16-section multidetector row CT 1 wk before surgery. Thirty-five patients with advanced ESCC receiving 4-wk CRT and showing response to CRT served as group B, and underwent CT scans similar with group A 4 wk after completion of CRT. In group A, differences in CT attenuation values (in HU) between the preoperative ESCC and background normal esophageal wall (delta CT1), or between different background normal esophageal walls (delta CT2) were compared. Furthermore, delta CT1 between group A and B was also compared.

RESULTS: In group A, mean delta CT1 was higher than delta CT2 (23.86 ± 10.59 HU vs 6.24 ± 3.06 HU, P < 0.05). When a delta CT1 of 10.025 HU was employed at a cut-off value to discriminate ESCC from normal esophagus, a sensitivity of 89.1% and specificity of 90.6% were achieved. Mean delta CT1 was lower in group B than in group A (9.25 ± 10.86 vs 23.86 ± 10.59, P < 0.05), and a delta CT1 of 15.45 HU was obtained at a cut-off value to assess the CRT changes with a sensitivity of 76.6% and specificity of 77.1%.

CONCLUSION: CECT might be a clinical technique for discriminating ESCC from normal esophagus, and evaluating outcome in the tumors treated with CRT.

Keywords: Esophagus; Squamous cell carcinoma; Multidetector row computed tomography; Attenuation value; Chemoradiotherapy