Abstract
Object: By retrospectively analyzing the energy spectrum of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and pulmonary metastases that underwent dual-layer detector spectral computed tomography (DLCT) 3-phase scan of the chest, we explored the value of a multiparameter energy spectrum in the assessment of pathological types of lung tumors. Methods: Cases of squamous cell carcinoma (n = 20), adenocarcinoma (n = 24), SCLC (n = 26), and metastases (n = 14) were collected. Then the largest cross-sectional area (LCA) of the lesion, computed tomography (CT) values in the plain scan phase, arterial and venous phases (HU, HUa, and HUv), iodine concentration, and effective atomic number in the arterial and venous phases (ICa, ICv, Zeff[a], and Zeff[v]) were measured and compared among the nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), SCLC and metastases, and other 3 groups of SCLC, squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma. Results: Only the LCA is statistically different among SCLC, NSCLC, and metastases (P < .05). And the treated subgroup analysis did not show significant differences among the groups. However, the untreated subgroup analysis showed that there was a significant difference between NSCLC and metastases in LCA, SCLC and metastases in ICa, NSCLC and SCLC in HUv, NSCLC and SCLC in Zeff(v) (P < .05). Conclusion: The energy spectrum parameters of DLCT have a certain clinical value in distinguishing NSCLC from SCLC in the Zeff(v) and distinguishing SCLC from metastases in the ICa.