DCE-CT in lung cancer: perfusion characterisation of adenocarcinoma and squamous carcinoma subtypes

Purpose: To evaluate tumour baseline characteristics in blood flow (BF) values of two lung cancer subtypes, adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In addition, since literature shows discordant results, we also investigate possible motivations, so as to find out a clearer outcome. Methods and Materials: 27 patients (age range 36-81 years) with primary NSCLC, subdivided into 20 AC and 7 SCC, were enrolled in this study and underwent a CT perfusion at the diagnosis stage. BF values were computed according to the maximum slope method and values undergoing high fitting errors were automatically removed. The one-tail Welch's t-test (p<0.001) was employed for statistical assessment. Results: At baseline, mean BF values of AC group [81.4±30.1] result significantly greater than those of SCC subtype [59.6±31.7] (p<