Spectral attenuation curves of photon-counting detector CT scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions – a proof-of-concept study

Abstract Background Spectral imaging via photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) scanners allows the generation of spectral attenuation curves. Our study aimed to test the feasibility of spectral attenuation curve analysis for differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic cystic...

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Main Authors: Ibolyka Dudás, Borbála Lovász, Márton Benke, Máté Kiss, Markus Juergens, Ákos Szücs, Pál N. Kaposi, Attila Szijártó, Pál Maurovich-Horvat, Bettina K. Budai
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Medical Imaging
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01770-6
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author Ibolyka Dudás
Borbála Lovász
Márton Benke
Máté Kiss
Markus Juergens
Ákos Szücs
Pál N. Kaposi
Attila Szijártó
Pál Maurovich-Horvat
Bettina K. Budai
author_facet Ibolyka Dudás
Borbála Lovász
Márton Benke
Máté Kiss
Markus Juergens
Ákos Szücs
Pál N. Kaposi
Attila Szijártó
Pál Maurovich-Horvat
Bettina K. Budai
author_sort Ibolyka Dudás
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Spectral imaging via photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) scanners allows the generation of spectral attenuation curves. Our study aimed to test the feasibility of spectral attenuation curve analysis for differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL). Methods Our study included 74 patients with PCLs. The classic morphological features were evaluated by an expert radiologist. The spectral attenuation curves were generated from the pancreatic-phase scans. The average CT values were measured on the 70 keV (HU70keV) and 40 keV (HU40keV) virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs), and the differences were calculated (HUΔ40−70keV). The cases were divided into training (53 mucinous vs. 19 non-mucinous PCLs) and test (10 mucinous vs. 10 non-mucinous PCLs) datasets. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the discrimination performance. The intra- and interobserver reproducibilities were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results On 70 keV VMIs, no significant differences were found between the average CT values of mucinous and non-mucinous PCLs, however, the difference was significant in HUΔ40−70keV values (p < 0.0001). The diagnostic performance of HUΔ40−70keV in differentiating between mucinous vs. non-mucinous PCL had AUCs of 0.92 and 0.92 on the training and test datasets, respectively, with a good interobserver (ICC = 0.82) and excellent intraobserver reproducibility (ICC = 0.94). The conventional clinical-radiological model achieved AUCs of 0.85 and 0.86, and with the addition of HUΔ40−70keV values its performance increased significantly to 0.98 and 0.94 on the training and test datasets, respectively. Conclusions Spectral attenuation curve assessment of cyst fluids could be a useful additional measurement to facilitate the noninvasive differential diagnosis of PCLs.
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spelling doaj-art-419fec942d7f4e45bd0cb586642cdb4c2025-08-20T04:01:43ZengBMCBMC Medical Imaging1471-23422025-07-0125111210.1186/s12880-025-01770-6Spectral attenuation curves of photon-counting detector CT scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions – a proof-of-concept studyIbolyka Dudás0Borbála Lovász1Márton Benke2Máté Kiss3Markus Juergens4Ákos Szücs5Pál N. Kaposi6Attila Szijártó7Pál Maurovich-Horvat8Bettina K. Budai9Medical Imaging Centre, Semmelweis UniversityMedical Imaging Centre, Semmelweis UniversityDepartment of Surgery, Transplantation and Gastroenterology, Semmelweis UniversitySiemens HealthcareSiemens Healthineers AG, Computed TomographyDepartment of Surgery, Transplantation and Gastroenterology, Semmelweis UniversityMedical Imaging Centre, Semmelweis UniversityDepartment of Surgery, Transplantation and Gastroenterology, Semmelweis UniversityMedical Imaging Centre, Semmelweis UniversityMedical Imaging Centre, Semmelweis UniversityAbstract Background Spectral imaging via photon-counting detector CT (PCD-CT) scanners allows the generation of spectral attenuation curves. Our study aimed to test the feasibility of spectral attenuation curve analysis for differentiating mucinous from non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic cystic lesions (PCL). Methods Our study included 74 patients with PCLs. The classic morphological features were evaluated by an expert radiologist. The spectral attenuation curves were generated from the pancreatic-phase scans. The average CT values were measured on the 70 keV (HU70keV) and 40 keV (HU40keV) virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs), and the differences were calculated (HUΔ40−70keV). The cases were divided into training (53 mucinous vs. 19 non-mucinous PCLs) and test (10 mucinous vs. 10 non-mucinous PCLs) datasets. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis assessed the discrimination performance. The intra- and interobserver reproducibilities were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results On 70 keV VMIs, no significant differences were found between the average CT values of mucinous and non-mucinous PCLs, however, the difference was significant in HUΔ40−70keV values (p < 0.0001). The diagnostic performance of HUΔ40−70keV in differentiating between mucinous vs. non-mucinous PCL had AUCs of 0.92 and 0.92 on the training and test datasets, respectively, with a good interobserver (ICC = 0.82) and excellent intraobserver reproducibility (ICC = 0.94). The conventional clinical-radiological model achieved AUCs of 0.85 and 0.86, and with the addition of HUΔ40−70keV values its performance increased significantly to 0.98 and 0.94 on the training and test datasets, respectively. Conclusions Spectral attenuation curve assessment of cyst fluids could be a useful additional measurement to facilitate the noninvasive differential diagnosis of PCLs.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01770-6Photon-counting detectorComputed tomographyPancreatic cystic lesionsPCNSpectral imaging
spellingShingle Ibolyka Dudás
Borbála Lovász
Márton Benke
Máté Kiss
Markus Juergens
Ákos Szücs
Pál N. Kaposi
Attila Szijártó
Pál Maurovich-Horvat
Bettina K. Budai
Spectral attenuation curves of photon-counting detector CT scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions – a proof-of-concept study
BMC Medical Imaging
Photon-counting detector
Computed tomography
Pancreatic cystic lesions
PCN
Spectral imaging
title Spectral attenuation curves of photon-counting detector CT scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions – a proof-of-concept study
title_full Spectral attenuation curves of photon-counting detector CT scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions – a proof-of-concept study
title_fullStr Spectral attenuation curves of photon-counting detector CT scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions – a proof-of-concept study
title_full_unstemmed Spectral attenuation curves of photon-counting detector CT scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions – a proof-of-concept study
title_short Spectral attenuation curves of photon-counting detector CT scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non-mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions – a proof-of-concept study
title_sort spectral attenuation curves of photon counting detector ct scans for the differentiation between mucinous and non mucinous cyst fluids of pancreatic lesions a proof of concept study
topic Photon-counting detector
Computed tomography
Pancreatic cystic lesions
PCN
Spectral imaging
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12880-025-01770-6
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