18F-FDG PET/CT Parameters Enhance MRI Radiomics for Predicting Human Papilloma Virus Status in Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Yonsei Med J. 2023 Dec;64(12):738-744. doi: 10.3349/ymj.2023.0187.

Abstract

Purpose: Predicting human papillomavirus (HPV) status is critical in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) radiomics. In this study, we developed a model for HPV status prediction using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) parameters in patients with OPSCC.

Materials and methods: Patients with OPSCC who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and contrast-enhanced MRI before treatment between January 2012 and February 2020 were enrolled. Training and test sets (3:2) were randomly selected. 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters and MRI radiomics feature were extracted. We developed three light-gradient boosting machine prediction models using the training set: Model 1, MRI radiomics features; Model 2, 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters; and Model 3, combination of MRI radiomics features and 18F-FDG PET/CT parameters. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) values were used to analyze the performance of the models in predicting HPV status in the test set.

Results: A total of 126 patients (118 male and 8 female; mean age: 60 years) were included. Of these, 103 patients (81.7%) were HPV-positive, and 23 patients (18.3%) were HPV-negative. AUROC values in the test set were 0.762 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.564-0.959], 0.638 (95% CI, 0.404-0.871), and 0.823 (95% CI, 0.668-0.978) for Models 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The net reclassification improvement of Model 3, compared with that of Model 1, in the test set was 0.119.

Conclusion: When combined with an MRI radiomics model, 18F-FDG PET/CT exhibits incremental value in predicting HPV status in patients with OPSCC.

Keywords: Positron emission tomography computed tomography; human papillomavirus; magnetic resonance imaging; oropharyngeal cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell* / pathology
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms*
  • Human Papillomavirus Viruses
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Papillomavirus Infections* / diagnostic imaging
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Positron-Emission Tomography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18