F. Panzuto, Rome, IT

To compare CT Texture Analysis and CT features (necrosis and delta enhancement) of liver metastases in pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (PNETs) and in non-pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors (NPNETs) according to tumor grading and risk of dying.

Material and methods

We assessed baseline CT images of 23 patients with liver metastases in PNETs and 25 patients with liver metastases in NPETs. The lesions were G1 and G2 according to WHO classification. Texture parameters (Mean, Standard Deviation, Entropy, Kurtosis, Skewness, Mean of Positive Pixel and Tx_sigma) at different spatial scale image filtration (SSF) were evaluated in CT arterial and portal phase using a dedicated software for volumetric analysis. CT images were scanned before the beginning of medical treatment.

Results

The following significant results (P< 0,05) were found: value of Skewness in arterial phase between PNETs G2 versus NPNETs G2; in portal phase between PNETs versus NPNETs, PNETs G1 versus NPNETs G1, PNETs G2 versus NPNETs G2; value of Mean in portal phase in PNETs vs NPNETs. Evaluating PNETs, P< 0,05 was found in: Kurtosis and high risk of dying; Skewness and low risk of dying. Evaluating NPNETs, P< 0,05 was found in: Entropy and high risk of dying.

Conclusion

This study shows that CT Texture features are significantly different in PNETs from NPNETs. Moreover, we highlight that some textural features have a significantly correlation with high risk of dying. The evidence of various expressions in term of textural parameters could help the physicians to plan appropriate follow-up programs, therapeutic strategies and to evaluate the response to therapy.

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