Perfusion CT in assessing the early efficacy of the chemotherapy of lung cancer
XIE Hai-tao1, LI Shu1, CHU Jin-gang1, LI Xue1, WANG Qiang1, GUO En-zhong1, LI Zhi-yong2, XU Ke1
1. Department of Radiology, First Clinical Hospital of the China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China; 2. Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian Liaoning 116011, China
Abstract：Objective: To observe the changes of parameters in perfusion CT before and after chemotherapy for patients with lung cancer and its relationship with the efficacy of treatment. Methods: Twenty-five patients were enrolled into the study who were pathologically diagnosed as lung cancer and would undergo conventional chemotherapy for lung cancer. According to RECIST criteria, the patients were divided into remission group and no-remission group. Each patient underwent two perfusion CT scans respectively within a week before and about 90～100 days after chemotherapy. The relationship of parameters changes before and after earlier chemotherapy and the efficacy of chemotherapy was studied. Results: Among the 25 cases, 15 cases had remission and the other 10 cases without remission. For all the 25 patients, the changes of tumor size in the two groups were not significant before and after chemotherapy(with an average interval of 21 days), but the changes of BV and PBV was statistically significant(in the remission group, BV and PBV before and after treatment were (71.0±20.4) mL/1 000 mL, (49.8±31.4) mL/1 000 mL; (73.1±34.1) mL/1 000 mL, (45.2±19.0) mL/1 000 mL; t values of 2.558 and 3.325; P values of 0.023 and 0.005, and the two parameters showed a downward trend. In the group without remission, BV and PBV before and after treatment were (50.4±61.0) mL/1 000 mL, (120.5±15.7) mL/1 000 mL; (38.0±9.3) mL/1 000 mL, (62.0±38.3) mL/1 000 mL; t value of -3.062, -2.471; P value 0.016, 0.036, upward trend). The relativity of the remission rate and the parameters of BV or PBV group χ2 test revealed: regardless of whether the parameter values increased or decreased, the changes of BV and efficacy of chemotherapy were not statistically significant. The changes of PBV correlated well with the effects of chemotherapy. The remission rate of group with reduced PBV was higher than that of the elevated one. Conclusion: No obvious change of size is observed between the lesions before and after chemotherapy in early stage. The changes of the perfusion CT parameters in the early stage after chemotherapy have potential application in predicting the efficacy of chemotherapy in the treatment for lung cancer.
2012, Vol. 23 
