CT perfusion imaging prediction of EGFR gene mutation in pulmonary adenocarcinoma

Objective: To analyze the correlation between CT perfusion imaging and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. Methods: 47 patients with pulmonary adenocarcinoma underwent preoperative CT perfusion imaging. According to the EGFR gene mutation, the patients were divided into positive (EGFR+) and negative (EGFR-) groups. The differences among the peak time (TTP), blood volume (BV) and peak enhancement (PEI) were compared. The value of CT perfusion parameters for predicting EGFR gene mutations were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: The TTP and BV were significantly (P = 0.019, P = 0.013) higher in the EGFR+ (23 patients) than that of EGFR-(24) groups. PEI was not significantly (P = 0.817) higher in the EGFR+ than that in the EGFR-groups. The area under the ROC curve of TTP was 0.713 and EGFR gene mutation was positive with 81.8% sensitivity and 56% specificity at TTP > 18.5 s. The area under the ROC curve of BV was 0.698 with 86.4% sensitivity and 48% specificity at BV > 25.41 mL/100 mg. Conclusion: CT perfusion imaging parameters, TTP and BV are helpful in predicting EGFR gene mutations in pulmonary adenocarcinoma. (authors)