Dual-energy CT in predicting Ki-67 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose To investigate whether multiple dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) parameters can noninvasively predict the Ki-67 expression (associated with survival and prognosis) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). Methods Eighty-eight patients with histologically proven LSCC were retrospectively reviewed. Multiple DECT-derived parameters were measured and correlated with Ki-67 expression by Spearman correlation analysis. Comparisons of the DECT-derived parameters between tumors with low- and high-level expression of Ki-67 were made with the t-tests. Results The iodine concentration (IC), normalized IC (NIC), effective atomic number (Zeff), 40−80 keV, and slope (k) values were positively correlated with Ki-67 expression (all p < 0.05, rho=0.367−0.548). Among all DECT-derived parameters, NIC value had the highest r value in correlation with Ki-67 expression. The IC, NIC, Zeff, 40−80 keV, and slope (k) values were significantly higher in LSCC with high Ki-67 expression than in those with low Ki-67 expression (all p < 0.05). Conclusions Multiple DECT-derived parameters (IC, NIC, Zeff, 40−80 keV, and slope (k)) can be used as predictors of survival and prognosis in LSCC, among which the NIC value is the strongest.