Combined 18 F-FDG PET/CT Radiomics and Sarcopenia Score in Predicting Relapse-Free Survival and Overall Survival in Patients With Esophagogastric Cancer.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine if radiomic features combined with sarcopenia measurements on pretreatment 18 F-FDG PET/CT can improve outcome prediction in surgically treated adenocarcinoma esophagogastric cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred forty-five esophageal adenocarcinoma patients with curative therapeutic intent and available pretreatment 18 F-FDG PET/CT were included. Textural features from PET and CT images were evaluated using LIFEx software ( lifexsoft.org ). Sarcopenia measurements were done by measuring the Skeletal Muscle Index at L3 level on the CT component. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted to create a model including the radiomic parameters, clinical features, and Skeletal Muscle Index score to predict patients' outcome.

RESULTS

In multivariable analysis, we combined clinicopathological parameters including ECOG, surgical T, and N staging along with imaging derived sarcopenia measurements and radiomic features to build a predictor model for relapse-free survival and overall survival. Overall, adding sarcopenic status to the model with clinical features only (likelihood ratio test P = 0.03) and CT feature ( P = 0.0037) improved the model fit for overall survival. Similarly, adding sarcopenic status ( P = 0.051), CT feature ( P = 0.042), and PET feature ( P = 0.011) improved the model fit for relapse-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

PET and CT radiomics derived from combined PET/CT integrated with clinicopathological parameters and sarcopenia measurement might improve outcome prediction in patients with nonmetastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma.