Diagnostic and prognostic value of CT perfusion parameters in patients with advanced NSCLC after chemotherapy

Objective: To determine the short-term prognostic value of Computed Tomography (CT) perfusion parameters in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 60 patients with NSCLC who received concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy were enrolled. Before therapy, CT perfusion imaging was conducted to scan their local lesions. Then, the CT perfusion-associated parameters were recorded, and evaluated. According to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), 42 out of 60 patients had remission after chemotherapy. The blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), and permeability surface (PS) of the two groups were analyzed before therapy, and factors and parameters affecting the efficacy of concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy were discussed.

Results: After chemotherapy, patients with remission showed lower BF, BV, and PS levels in pulmonary lesions than those without remission (all P<0.05). According to the 1-year follow-up results, 33 cases survived, and 27 cases died, and the survivors showed lower BF and PS levels than the dead (both P<0.05).

Conclusion: Patients with lower BF and PS in CT perfusion parameters obtained better chemotherapy efficacy, so BF and PS can be adopted to predict the survival of patients.