A CT-based radiomics approach to predict intra-tumoral tertiary lymphoid structures and recurrence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

PURPOSE: To predict the tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) status and recurrence-free survival (RFS) of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) patients using preoperative CT radiomics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 116 ICC patients were included (training: 86; external validation: 30). The enhanced CT images were performed for the radiomics model. The logistic regression analysis was applied for the clinical model. The combined model was based on the clinical and radiomics models. RESULTS: A total of 107 radiomics features were extracted, and after being eliminated and selected, six features were combined to establish a radiomics model for TLSs prediction. Arterial phase diffuse hyperenhancement and AJCC 8th stage were combined to construct a clinical model. The combined (radiomics nomogram) model outperformed both the independent radiomics model and clinical model in the training cohort (AUC, 0.85 vs. 0.82 and 0.75, respectively) and was validated in the external validation cohort (AUC, 0.88 vs. 0.86 and 0.71, respectively). Patients in the rad-score no less than −0.76 (low-risk) group showed significantly better RFS than those in the less than −0.76 (high-risk) group (p < 0.001, C-index = 0.678). Patients in the nomogram score no less than −1.16 (low-risk) group showed significantly better RFS than those of the less than −1.16 (high-risk) group (p < 0.001, C-index = 0.723). CONCLUSIONS: CT radiomics nomogram could serve as a preoperative biomarker of intra-tumoral TLSs status, better than independent radiomics or clinical models; preoperative CT radiomics nomogram achieved accurate stratification for RFS of ICC patients, better than the postoperative pathologic TLSs status. CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: The radiomics nomogram showed better performance in predicting TLSs than independent radiomics or clinical models and better prognosis stratification than postoperative pathologic TLSs status in ICC patients, which may facilitate identifying patients benefiting most from surgery and subsequent immunotherapy. KEY POINTS: • The combined (radiomics nomogram) model consisted of the radiomics model and clinical model (arterial phase diffuse hyperenhancement and AJCC 8th stage). • The radiomics nomogram showed better performance in predicting TLSs than independent radiomics or clinical models in ICC patients. • Preoperative CT radiomics nomogram achieved more accurate stratification for RFS of ICC patients than the postoperative pathologic TLSs status. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13244-023-01527-1.