A Tumor Volume Segmentation Algorithm Based on Radiomics Features in FDG-PET in Lung Cancer Patients, Validated Using Surgical Specimens

Background: Although the integration of positron emission tomography into radiation therapy treatment planning has become part of clinical routine, the best method for tumor delineation is still a matter of debate. In this study, therefore, we analyzed a novel, radiomics-feature-based algorithm in c...

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Main Authors: Lena Bundschuh, Jens Buermann, Marieta Toma, Joachim Schmidt, Glen Kristiansen, Markus Essler, Ralph Alexander Bundschuh, Vesna Prokic
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/23/2654
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author Lena Bundschuh
Jens Buermann
Marieta Toma
Joachim Schmidt
Glen Kristiansen
Markus Essler
Ralph Alexander Bundschuh
Vesna Prokic
author_facet Lena Bundschuh
Jens Buermann
Marieta Toma
Joachim Schmidt
Glen Kristiansen
Markus Essler
Ralph Alexander Bundschuh
Vesna Prokic
author_sort Lena Bundschuh
collection DOAJ
description Background: Although the integration of positron emission tomography into radiation therapy treatment planning has become part of clinical routine, the best method for tumor delineation is still a matter of debate. In this study, therefore, we analyzed a novel, radiomics-feature-based algorithm in combination with histopathological workup for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Methods: A total of 20 patients with biopsy-proven lung cancer who underwent [<sup>18</sup>F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) examination before tumor resection were included. Tumors were segmented in positron emission tomography (PET) data using previously reported algorithms based on three different radiomics features, as well as a threshold-based algorithm. To obtain gold-standard results, lesions were measured after resection. Pathological volumes and maximal diameters were then compared with the results of the segmentation algorithms. Results: A total of 20 lesions were analyzed. For all algorithms, segmented volumes correlated well with pathological volumes. In general, the threshold-based volumes exhibited a tendency to be smaller than the radiomics-based volumes. For all lesions, conventional threshold-based segmentation produced coefficients of variation which corresponded best with pathologically based volumes; however, for lesions larger than 3 ccm, the algorithm based on Local Entropy performed best, with a significantly better coefficient of variation (<i>p</i> = 0.0002) than the threshold-based algorithm. Conclusions: We found that, for small lesions, results obtained using conventional threshold-based segmentation compared well with pathological volumes. For lesions larger than 3 ccm, the novel algorithm based on Local Entropy performed best. These findings confirm the results of our previous phantom studies. This algorithm is therefore worthy of inclusion in future studies for further confirmation and application.
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spelling doaj-art-cd7f16b248dd42be9790a7d886b8a0152025-08-20T02:50:19ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182024-11-011423265410.3390/diagnostics14232654A Tumor Volume Segmentation Algorithm Based on Radiomics Features in FDG-PET in Lung Cancer Patients, Validated Using Surgical SpecimensLena Bundschuh0Jens Buermann1Marieta Toma2Joachim Schmidt3Glen Kristiansen4Markus Essler5Ralph Alexander Bundschuh6Vesna Prokic7Klinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyKlinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyInstitut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyKlinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyInstitut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyKlinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyKlinik und Poliklinik für Nuklearmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, 53127 Bonn, GermanyDepartment of Physics, University Koblenz, 56070 Koblenz, GermanyBackground: Although the integration of positron emission tomography into radiation therapy treatment planning has become part of clinical routine, the best method for tumor delineation is still a matter of debate. In this study, therefore, we analyzed a novel, radiomics-feature-based algorithm in combination with histopathological workup for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. Methods: A total of 20 patients with biopsy-proven lung cancer who underwent [<sup>18</sup>F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) examination before tumor resection were included. Tumors were segmented in positron emission tomography (PET) data using previously reported algorithms based on three different radiomics features, as well as a threshold-based algorithm. To obtain gold-standard results, lesions were measured after resection. Pathological volumes and maximal diameters were then compared with the results of the segmentation algorithms. Results: A total of 20 lesions were analyzed. For all algorithms, segmented volumes correlated well with pathological volumes. In general, the threshold-based volumes exhibited a tendency to be smaller than the radiomics-based volumes. For all lesions, conventional threshold-based segmentation produced coefficients of variation which corresponded best with pathologically based volumes; however, for lesions larger than 3 ccm, the algorithm based on Local Entropy performed best, with a significantly better coefficient of variation (<i>p</i> = 0.0002) than the threshold-based algorithm. Conclusions: We found that, for small lesions, results obtained using conventional threshold-based segmentation compared well with pathological volumes. For lesions larger than 3 ccm, the novel algorithm based on Local Entropy performed best. These findings confirm the results of our previous phantom studies. This algorithm is therefore worthy of inclusion in future studies for further confirmation and application.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/23/2654PET/CTradiomicsradiation therapy treatment planningtumor volume segmentation
spellingShingle Lena Bundschuh
Jens Buermann
Marieta Toma
Joachim Schmidt
Glen Kristiansen
Markus Essler
Ralph Alexander Bundschuh
Vesna Prokic
A Tumor Volume Segmentation Algorithm Based on Radiomics Features in FDG-PET in Lung Cancer Patients, Validated Using Surgical Specimens
Diagnostics
PET/CT
radiomics
radiation therapy treatment planning
tumor volume segmentation
title A Tumor Volume Segmentation Algorithm Based on Radiomics Features in FDG-PET in Lung Cancer Patients, Validated Using Surgical Specimens
title_full A Tumor Volume Segmentation Algorithm Based on Radiomics Features in FDG-PET in Lung Cancer Patients, Validated Using Surgical Specimens
title_fullStr A Tumor Volume Segmentation Algorithm Based on Radiomics Features in FDG-PET in Lung Cancer Patients, Validated Using Surgical Specimens
title_full_unstemmed A Tumor Volume Segmentation Algorithm Based on Radiomics Features in FDG-PET in Lung Cancer Patients, Validated Using Surgical Specimens
title_short A Tumor Volume Segmentation Algorithm Based on Radiomics Features in FDG-PET in Lung Cancer Patients, Validated Using Surgical Specimens
title_sort tumor volume segmentation algorithm based on radiomics features in fdg pet in lung cancer patients validated using surgical specimens
topic PET/CT
radiomics
radiation therapy treatment planning
tumor volume segmentation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/14/23/2654
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