FDG-PET predicts bone invasion and prognosis in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

Evaluation of bone marrow invasion on the machine learning of 18 F-FDG PET texture analysis in lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma (LGSCC) has the potential to invade the alveolar bone. Traditionally, the diagnosis of LGSCC relied on morphological imaging, but inconsistencies between these assessments and surgical findings have been observed. This study aimed to assess the correlation between LGSCC bone marrow invasion and PET texture features and to enhance diagnostic accuracy by using machine learning.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 159 LGSCC patients with pretreatment 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) examination from 2009 to 2017 was performed. We extracted radiomic features from the PET images, focusing on pathologic bone marrow invasion detection. Extracted features underwent the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm-based selection and were then used for machine learning via the XGBoost package to distinguish bone marrow invasion presence. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed.

RESULTS

From the 159 patients, 88 qualified for further analysis (59 men; average age, 69.2 years), and pathologic bone marrow invasion was identified in 69 (78%) of these patients. Three significant radiological features were identified: Gray level co-occurrence matrix_Correlation, INTENSITY-BASED_IntensityInterquartileRange, and MORPHOLOGICAL_SurfaceToVolumeRatio. An XGBoost machine-learning model, using PET radiomic features to detect bone marrow invasion, yielded an area under the curve value of 0.83.

CONCLUSION

Our findings highlighted the potential of 18 F-FDG PET radiomic features, combined with machine learning, as a promising avenue for improving LGSCC diagnosis and treatment. Using 18 F-FDG PET texture features may provide a robust and accurate method for determining the presence or absence of bone marrow invasion in LGSCC patients.

Effect of segmental versus marginal mandibular resection on local and lymph node recurrences in oral squamous cell carcinoma: is tumorous bone infiltration or location and resulting soft tissue recurrences a long-term problem?

PURPOSE

Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) adjacent to the mandible or with clinically suspected bone infiltration are surgically treated either with marginal or segmental resections. This retrospective study compared both resections regarding local recurrence and lymph node recurrence or secondary lymph node metastases.

METHODS

All consecutive primary OSCC cases between January 2007 and December 2015 that underwent mandibular marginal or segmental resection were included. Rates of local and lymph node recurrences or secondary metastases and possible risk factors such as tumor localization according to Urken's classification were recorded.

RESULTS

In total, 180 patients with 85 marginal (group I) and 95 segmental (group II) mandibular resections were analyzed. The local recurrence rates were comparable between the groups (28.2% vs. 27.4%; p = 0.897). Lymph node recurrences or secondary metastases were higher in group I (9.4% (n = 8) vs. 6.2% (n = 6); p = 0.001). Tumor localization appears to affect the outcomes. Significantly fewer local and lymph node recurrences/metastases were found for Urken's classification SB and S calculated by two-proportion z-test (p = 0.014 and 0.056, respectively). Local recurrences mostly emerged from soft tissues, which should be resected more radically than the bones.

CONCLUSION

While bone infiltration appears technically well controllable from an oncologic point of view, local recurrences and lymph node recurrences/metastases remain an issue. Regular clinical aftercare with imaging is crucial to detect recurrences.

Prediction of Maxillary Bone Invasion in Hard Palate/Upper Alveolus Cancer: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study

BACKGROUND

maxillary bone invasion (MBI) is not uncommon in hard palate or upper alveolus (HP/UA) cancer; however, there have been relatively few reports about the MBI of HP/UA cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

this was a multi-center retrospective study, enrolling 144 cases of HP/UA cancer. MBI was defined by surgical pathology or radiology follow-up. The multiple prediction models for MBI were developed in total cases and in cases having primary bone resection, using clinical and radiological variables.

RESULTS

computerized tomography (CT) alone predicted MBI, with an area under receiver operating curve (AUC) of 0.779 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.712-0.847). The AUC was increased in a model that combined tumor dimensions and clinical factors (male sex and nodal metastasis) (0.854 (95%CI = 0.790-0.918)). In patients who underwent 18fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT), the discrimination performance of a model including the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) had an AUC of 0.911 (95%CI = 0.847-0.975). The scoring system using CT finding, tumor dimension, and clinical factors, with/without PET/CT SUVmax clearly distinguished low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups for MBI.

CONCLUSION

using information from CT, tumor dimension, clinical factors, and the SUVmax value, the MBI of HP/UA cancer can be predicted with a relatively high discrimination performance.

Pathological tumor volume as a simple quantitative predictive factor of survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the eighth most common type of cancer in the world. Knowledge of prognostic factors of survival in OSCC is key. Several clinical and pathological prognostic factors have been investigated to develop a prognostic model of survival for patients with oral cancer. The present study focused on the association between pathological tumor volume (PTV) and overall survival time in patients with OSCC, regardless of cervical nodal status. The present study was a prospective study and covered 65 consecutive patients who received surgical treatment for oral cancer. The PTV was calculated according to dimensions of the postoperative specimen. Other pathological parameters as perineural and perivascular tumor spreading and extra-nodular propagation were also determined. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS 25.0 software. Cox PH regression model was built to analyze association between the PTV and survival time. Survival time was defined as the period from surgery to a target event or last contact. The results of the present study showed that PTV >4.24 cm³ was significantly associated with shorter overall survival time in patients with OSCC. The PTV value was higher in patients with metastasis and in patients with higher pathological tumor and node stage. In conclusion, PTV was an important pathological prognostic factor for survival in patients with OSCC.

Determination of diagnostic and predictive parameters for vertical mandibular invasion in patients with lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study

Vertical mandibular invasion of lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma (LGSCC) determines the method of resection, which significantly affects the patient's quality of life. Therefore, in mandibular invasion by LGSCC, it is extremely important to monitor progression, specifically whether invasion is limited to the cortical bone or has progressed to the bone marrow. This retrospective study aimed to identify the diagnostic and predictive parameters for mandibular invasion, particularly vertical invasion, to enable appropriate selection of the method of mandibular resection. Of the patients who underwent surgery for LGSCC between 2009 and 2017, 64 were eligible for participation in the study based on tissue microarrays (TMA) from surgical specimens. This study analyzed morphological features using computed tomography (CT), and metabolic characteristics using maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), peak value of SUV (SUVpeak), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG). Moreover, immunohistochemical analysis of proteins, including parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), E-cadherin, and programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using univariate logistic regression analysis with the forward selection method. The present study showed that MTV (≥2.9 cm3) was an independent diagnostic and predictive factor for positivity of mandibular invasion. Additionally, TLG (≥53.9 bw/cm3) was an independent diagnostic and predictive factor for progression to bone marrow invasion. This study demonstrated that in addition to morphological imaging by CT, the volume-based parameters of MTV and TLG on fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography were important for predicting pathological mandibular invasion in patients with LGSCC. A more accurate preoperative diagnosis of vertical mandibular invasion would enable the selection of appropriate surgical procedure for mandibular resection.

Evaluation of Proton MR Spectroscopy for the Study of the Tongue Tissue in Healthy Subjects and Patients With Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Preliminary Findings

Purpose

To noninvasively assess spectroscopic and metabolic profiles of healthy tongue tissue and in an exploratory objective in nontreated and treated patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Methods

Fourteen healthy subjects (HSs), one patient with nontreated tongue SCC (NT-SCC), and two patients with treated tongue SCC (T-SCC) underwent MRI and single-voxel proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) evaluations (3 and 1.5T). Multi-echo-times 1H-MRS was performed at the medial superior part (MSP) and the anterior inferior part (AIP) of the tongue in HS, while 1H-MRS voxel was placed at the most aggressive part of the tumor for patients with tongue SCC. 1H-MRS data analysis yielded spectroscopic metabolite ratios quantified to total creatine.

Results

In HS, compared to MSP and AIP, 1H-MRS spectra revealed higher levels of creatine, a more prominent and well-identified trimethylamine-choline (TMA-Cho) peak. However, larger prominent lipid peaks were better differentiated in the tongue MSP. Compared to HS, patients with NT-SCC exhibited very high levels of lipids and relatively higher values of TMA-Cho peak. Interestingly, patients with T-SCC showed almost nonproliferation activity. However, high lipids levels were measured, although they were relatively lower than lipids levels measured in patients with NT-SCC.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrated the potential use of in-vivo1H-MRS to noninvasively assess spectroscopic and metabolic profiles of the healthy tongue tissue in a spatial location-dependent manner. Preliminary results revealed differences between HS and patients with tongue NT-SCC as well as tongue T-SCC, which should be confirmed with more patients. 1H-MRS could be included, in the future, in the arsenal of tools for treatment response evaluation and noninvasive monitoring of patients with tongue SCC.