Iodine Maps from Dual-Energy CT to Predict Extrathyroidal Extension and Recurrence in Papillary Thyroid Cancer Based...

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Accurate prediction of extrathyroidal extension and recurrence is vital for papillary thyroid cancer management.
• Current methods require enhancement for improved prognostic capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate iodine map-based radiomics for predicting extrathyroidal extension in papillary thyroid cancer.
• To explore the prognostic value of radiomics for recurrence-free survival.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 452 papillary thyroid cancer patients.
• Extraction of radiomics features from noncontrast, dual-phase, and iodine map images.
• Development of radiomics models using Random Forest and LASSO, compared against a clinical model.

Main Results:

• Iodine map radiomics significantly outperformed noncontrast and mixed image radiomics.
• A nomogram incorporating size, capsule contact, and iodine radiomics score achieved high performance (AUC 0.78 training, 0.84 validation).
• Predicted extrathyroidal extension risk independently predicted recurrence-free survival.

Conclusions:

• Iodine map-based radiomics shows promise as a tool for predicting extrathyroidal extension and recurrence risk.
• This approach can support clinical decision-making in papillary thyroid cancer management.