AUTHOR=Ma Yanqing , Ma Weijun , Xu Xiren , Cao Fang 

TITLE=How Does the Delta-Radiomics Better Differentiate Pre-Invasive GGNs From Invasive GGNs?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2020

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2020.01017

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2020.01017

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Purpose This study aimed to explore the role of delta-radiomics in differentiating pre-invasive ground-glass nodules (GGNs) from invasive GGNs, compared with radiomics signature.
Materials and Methods 464 patients including 107 pre-invasive GGNs and 357 invasive GGNs were embraced in radiomics signature analysis. 3D regions of interest (ROIs) were contoured with ITK software. By the means of ANOVA/MW, correlation analysis, and LASSO, the optimal radiomic features were selected. The logistic classifier of radiomics signature was constructed and radiomic scores (rad-scores) were calculated. 379 patients including 48 pre-invasive GGNs and 331 invasive GGNs with baseline and follow-up CT examinations before surgeries were enrolled in delta-radiomics analysis. Finally, the logistic classifier of delta-radiomics was constructed. The receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) were built to evaluate the validity of classifiers.
Results To radiomics signature analysis, six features were selected from 396 radiomic features. The areas under curve (AUCs) of logistic classifiers were 0.865 (95%CI, 0.823-0.900) in training set and were 0.800 (95%CI, 0.724-0.863) in testing set, respectively. The rad-scores of invasive GGNs were larger than those of pre-invasive GGNs. As the follow-up interval went on, more and more delta-radiomic features became statistically different. The AUC of delta-radiomics logistic classifier was 0.901 (95%CI, 0.867-0.928), which was higher than that of radiomics signature.  
Conclusion The radiomics signature contributes to distinguish pre-invasive and invasive GGNs. The rad-scores of invasive GGNs were larger than those of pre-invasive GGNs. More and more delta-radiomic features appeared statistical difference with follow-up interval prolonged. Delta-radiomics is superior to radiomics signature in differentiating pre-invasive and invasive GGNs.