Correlation between Clinicopathological Features and Spectral CT Imaging of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Objective: To determinate the clinicopathological characteristics of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC), and investigate the correlation between these characteristics and quantitative parameters on spectral CT. Methods:Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained.Eighty patients diagnosed with SqCC were enrolled.The clinicopathological characteristics were documented.The normalized iodine concentration (NIC) was measured.Differences of features between central and peripheral SqCCs were tested.Features associated with nodal involvement were analyzed.Differences of NIC with correlation of pathological results were examined. Results:Of 80 patients, central SqCC was more frequently observed in patients who were younger (P = 0.013), presenting with vascular invasion (P = 0.022) and nodal metastases (P = 0.007), whereas stagedⅠdisease was more likely identified in peripheral SqCC (P = 0.019).The initial size (OR = 3.5, 95% CI: 1.3-9.2) and nerve invasion (OR = 5.6, 95% CI: 1.2-26.7)were significant independent factors of nodal involvement.Higher maximum NIC was significantly associated with increasing size of tumor (P < 0.001). Conclusion:SqCC of the lung had distinct clinicopathological characteristics separately for tumors originated from central and peripheral areas.Initial size and nerve invasion were independent factors of nodal involvement.Higher iodine concentration was significantly associated with tumor growth.