Prediction of different stages of rectal cancer: Texture analysis based on diffusion-weighted images and apparent diffusion coefficient maps

BACKGROUND: It is evident that an accurate evaluation of T and N stage rectal cancer is essential for treatment planning. It has not been extensively investigated whether texture features derived from diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) images and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps are associated with the extent of local invasion (pathological stage T1-2 vs T3-4) and nodal involvement (pathological stage N0 vs N1-2) in rectal cancer. AIM: To predict different stages of rectal cancer using texture analysis based on DWI images and ADC maps. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients with pathologically proven rectal cancer, who underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging, including DWI, were enrolled, retrospectively. The ADC measurements (ADC(mean), ADC(min), ADC(max)) as well as texture features, including the gray level co-occurrence matrix parameters, the gray level run-length matrix parameters and wavelet parameters were calculated based on DWI (b = 0 and b = 1000) images and the ADC maps. Independent sample t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were used for statistical analysis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to establish the models. The predictive performance was validated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS: Dissimilarity, sum average, information correlation and run-length nonuniformity from DWI(b)(=0) images, gray level nonuniformity, run percentage and run-length nonuniformity from DWI(b)(=1000) images, and dissimilarity and run percentage from ADC maps were found to be independent predictors of local invasion (stage T3-4). The area under the operating characteristic curve of the model reached 0.793 with a sensitivity of 78.57% and a specificity of 74.19%. Sum average, gray level nonuniformity and the horizontal components of symlet transform (SymletH) from DWI(b)(=0) images, sum average, information correlation, long run low gray level emphasis and SymletH from DWI(b)(=1000) images, and ADC(max), ADC(mean) and information correlation from ADC maps were identified as independent predictors of nodal involvement. The area under the operating characteristic curve of the model reached 0.802 with a sensitivity of 80.77% and a specificity of 68.25%. CONCLUSION: Texture features extracted from DWI images and ADC maps are useful clues for predicting pathological T and N stages in rectal cancer.