Heterogeneity of T3 stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in different parts based on enhanced CT radiomics

Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system with a high incidence and a poor prognosis. At the present, CT-based radiomics is providing more and more valuable information. However, the heterogeneity of the study and the poor repeatability of the texture feature parameters have limited its wider clinical application. In the present study, we focused on comparing the differences in the texture features of T3 stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at different locations and normal esophageal wall, aiming to provide some pieces of useful information for future research on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Fifty seven cases with throat CT imaging, including esophageal cancer contrast enhanced CT and conventional CT of healthy control group. The texture characteristics in control group and tumor group among different parts were compared. Using Univariable analysis, we compared the difference and conducted receiver-operator curve analysis to evaluate the performance of tumor grade diagnosis model. 53 radiomic features were significantly different in control group and so as 93 features for tumor group. The upper section was the mostly different from the other 2 sections. Run-length matrix (RLM) features in tumor group accounted for the highest proportion, only Surface Volume Ratio was different. There are differences in the texture features of the tube wall in different parts of the esophagus of healthy adults, and this difference is more obvious in pT3 stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In the future radiomics study of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, we need to pay attention to this to avoid affecting the accuracy of the results.