Predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using MRI radiomics: a multicenter retrospective study
Abstract MRI has relatively low sensitivity and specificity in detecting lymph node metastases. This study aimed to develop and validate an MRI radiomics-based model for predicting lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) metastasis in rectal cancer patients who underwent LPLN dissection, and to compare its...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-04-01
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| author | Jeongin Yoo Jun Young Han Won Chang Bo Yun Hur Jae Hyun Kim Yunhee Choi Soo Jin Kim Se Hyung Kim |
| author_facet | Jeongin Yoo Jun Young Han Won Chang Bo Yun Hur Jae Hyun Kim Yunhee Choi Soo Jin Kim Se Hyung Kim |
| author_sort | Jeongin Yoo |
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| description | Abstract MRI has relatively low sensitivity and specificity in detecting lymph node metastases. This study aimed to develop and validate an MRI radiomics-based model for predicting lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) metastasis in rectal cancer patients who underwent LPLN dissection, and to compare its performance with that of radiologists. This multicenter retrospective study included 336 rectal cancer patients (199 men; mean age, 58.9 years ± 11.1 [standard deviation]) who underwent LPLN dissection. Patients were divided into development (n = 190) and validation (n = 146) cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from MR images, and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression was used to construct radiomics and clinical-radiomics models. Model performance was compared with radiologists using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Malignant LPLN was diagnosed in 32.4% of the development cohort (65/190) and 32.9% of the validation cohort (48/146) (P = 0.798). Seven radiomics features and two clinical features were selected. The radiomics and clinical-radiomics models demonstrated area under the curves (AUCs) of 0.819 and 0.830 in the development cohort and 0.821 and 0.829 in the validation cohort, respectively. The optimal cut-off (− 0.47) yielded sensitivities of 72.3% and 45.8% and specificities of 82.4% and 87.8% in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. Decision curve analysis indicated no additional net benefit from the clinical-radiomics model compared to the radiomics-only model. Radiologists’ AUCs were significantly lower than that of the radiomics model (0.842) and improved with radiomics probability scores (0.734 vs. 0.801; 0.668 vs. 0.791). The MRI-based radiomics model significantly improves the prediction of LPLN metastasis in rectal cancer, outperforming conventional criteria used by radiologists. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c9c216a32b024cf2954e3d45c0d101702025-08-20T02:55:38ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-99029-1Predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using MRI radiomics: a multicenter retrospective studyJeongin Yoo0Jun Young Han1Won Chang2Bo Yun Hur3Jae Hyun Kim4Yunhee Choi5Soo Jin Kim6Se Hyung Kim7Department of Radiology, Seoul National University HospitalCollege of Medicine, Seoul National UniversityDepartment of Radiology, Seoul National University Bundang HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Healthcare System Gangnam Center, Seoul National University HospitalDepartment of Radiology, Seoul National University HospitalMedical Research Collaborating Center, Seoul National University HospitalDepartment of Radiology, National Cancer CenterDepartment of Radiology, Seoul National University HospitalAbstract MRI has relatively low sensitivity and specificity in detecting lymph node metastases. This study aimed to develop and validate an MRI radiomics-based model for predicting lateral pelvic lymph node (LPLN) metastasis in rectal cancer patients who underwent LPLN dissection, and to compare its performance with that of radiologists. This multicenter retrospective study included 336 rectal cancer patients (199 men; mean age, 58.9 years ± 11.1 [standard deviation]) who underwent LPLN dissection. Patients were divided into development (n = 190) and validation (n = 146) cohorts. Radiomics features were extracted from MR images, and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression was used to construct radiomics and clinical-radiomics models. Model performance was compared with radiologists using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Malignant LPLN was diagnosed in 32.4% of the development cohort (65/190) and 32.9% of the validation cohort (48/146) (P = 0.798). Seven radiomics features and two clinical features were selected. The radiomics and clinical-radiomics models demonstrated area under the curves (AUCs) of 0.819 and 0.830 in the development cohort and 0.821 and 0.829 in the validation cohort, respectively. The optimal cut-off (− 0.47) yielded sensitivities of 72.3% and 45.8% and specificities of 82.4% and 87.8% in the development and validation cohorts, respectively. Decision curve analysis indicated no additional net benefit from the clinical-radiomics model compared to the radiomics-only model. Radiologists’ AUCs were significantly lower than that of the radiomics model (0.842) and improved with radiomics probability scores (0.734 vs. 0.801; 0.668 vs. 0.791). The MRI-based radiomics model significantly improves the prediction of LPLN metastasis in rectal cancer, outperforming conventional criteria used by radiologists. Trial registration: Retrospectively registered.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99029-1Rectal neoplasmsMagnetic resonance imagingRadiomicsLymphatic metastasisLymph node excision |
| spellingShingle | Jeongin Yoo Jun Young Han Won Chang Bo Yun Hur Jae Hyun Kim Yunhee Choi Soo Jin Kim Se Hyung Kim Predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using MRI radiomics: a multicenter retrospective study Scientific Reports Rectal neoplasms Magnetic resonance imaging Radiomics Lymphatic metastasis Lymph node excision |
| title | Predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using MRI radiomics: a multicenter retrospective study |
| title_full | Predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using MRI radiomics: a multicenter retrospective study |
| title_fullStr | Predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using MRI radiomics: a multicenter retrospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using MRI radiomics: a multicenter retrospective study |
| title_short | Predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using MRI radiomics: a multicenter retrospective study |
| title_sort | predicting lateral pelvic lymph node metastasis in rectal cancer patients using mri radiomics a multicenter retrospective study |
| topic | Rectal neoplasms Magnetic resonance imaging Radiomics Lymphatic metastasis Lymph node excision |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99029-1 |
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