Prognostic CT features in patients with untreated thymic epithelial tumors

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To determine the prognostic CT features in patients with untreated thymic epithelial tumors (TETs). MATERIALS AND METHODS The clinical data and CT imaging features of 194 patients with pathologically confirmed TETs were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects included 113 male and 81 female patients between 15 and 78 years of age, with a mean age of 53.8 years. The clinical outcomes were categorized according to whether relapse, metastasis or death occurred within 2 years since first diagnosed. The association between clinical outcomes and radiological features were determined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, while the survival status was analyzed by Cox regression. RESULTS There were 110 thymic carcinomas, 52 high-risk thymomas and 32 low-risk thymomas in this study. In the group of thymic carcinomas, 46 patients (41.8%) had tumor progress, local relapse or metastases and were categorized as poor outcomes. Vessel invasion and pericardium mass were confirmed of the independent predictors by logistic regression analysis (p < 0.01). In the group of high risk thymomas, 11 patients were categorized as poor outcomes and CT feature of pericardium mass was confirmed of the independent predictor (p < 0.01). In survivals analysis, Cox regression showed that features of lung invasion, great vessel invasion, lung metastases and distant organ metastasis were the independent predictors for overall survival in the group of thymic carcinomas(p < 0.01), while lung invasion and pericardium mass were the independent predictor for overall survival in the group of high-risk thymomas. No CT features were related with patient prognosis or survival in the group of low-risk thymomas. CONCLUSION CT could serve as an important tool in predicting the prognosis and survival in patients with TETs.