Quantitative evaluation of iodine and fat using dual-energy CT for assessments of the tumor aggressiveness in lung cancer

Abstract Background The three-material decomposition method (3MD) of dual-energy applications can quantify iodine and fat contents the tumor. purpose this study was to assess usefulness quantifying in tumor grade, lymphovascular invasion, pleural invasion predict aggressiveness lung cancer (LC) using computed tomography (DECT). We prospectively analyzed cases 32 patients with tumors who underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced DECT. Image data were processed a 3MD imaging software. Iodine within mass quantified. In 24 cancerous tumors, we performed correlation analysis histological grade (grades 1–4), invasion. Results concentration (mg/mL) fat-volume-fraction (%) showed no significant differences among grades ( p = 0.514 0.405, respectively) (Jonckheere–Terpstra test). Likewise, not associated either or 0.673 0.251, (Mann–Whitney Lymphovascular however, significantly (39.3 $$\pm$$ ± 23.4% vs. 62.3 29.5%, 0.007), but 0.137). receiver operating characteristics curve between presence absence revealed an area under 0.861 at cut-off value 37.8%, sensitivity 1.000 specificity 0.722. Conclusion quantitative evaluation DECT may LC.