The Development and Validation of a CT-Based Radiomics Nomogram to Preoperatively Predict Lymph Node Metastasis in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer

PURPOSE: To develop and validate a radiomics model for predicting preoperative lymph node (LN) metastasis in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: From May 2008 to January 2018, a total of 256 eligible HGSOC patients who underwent tumor resection and LN dissection were divided into a training cohort (n=179) and a test cohort (n=77) in a 7:3 ratio. A Radiomics Model was developed based on a training cohort of 179 patients. A radiomics signature (defined as the Radscore) was selected by using the random forest method. Logistics regression was used as the classifier for modeling. An Integrated Model that incorporated the Radscore and CT_reported LN status (CT_LN_report) was developed and presented as a radiomics nomogram. Its performance was determined by the area under the curve (AUC), calibration, and decision curve. The radiomics nomogram was internally tested in an independent test cohort (n=77) and a CT-LN-report negative subgroup (n=179) using the formula derived from the training cohort. RESULTS: The AUC value of the CT_LN_report was 0.688 (95% CI: 0.626, 0.759) in the training cohort and 0.717 (95% CI: 0.630, 0.804) in the test cohort. The Radiomics Model yielded an AUC of 0.767 (95% CI: 0.696, 0.837) in the training cohort and 0.753 (95% CI: 0.640, 0.866) in the test. The radiomics nomogram demonstrated favorable calibration and discrimination in the training cohort (AUC=0.821), test cohort (AUC=0.843), and CT-LN-report negative subgroup (AUC=0.82), outperforming the Radiomics Model and CT_LN_report alone. CONCLUSIONS: The radiomics nomogram derived from portal phase CT images performed well in predicting LN metastasis in HGSOC and could be recommended as a new, convenient, and non-invasive method to aid in clinical decision-making.