• Veterinary View Box
  • Posts
  • CT Texture Analysis: A New Tool for Predicting Malignancy in Canine Splenic Tumors

CT Texture Analysis: A New Tool for Predicting Malignancy in Canine Splenic Tumors

VRU 2023 64(2): 224-232

July 06, 2023

Background: Splenic hemangiosarcoma has morphological similarities to benign nodular hyperplasia. Computed tomography (CT) texture analysis can analyze the texture of images that the naive human eye cannot detect.

Study: This retrospective, analytical design study aimed to assess the feasibility of CT texture analysis in splenic masses and investigate predictive biomarkers of splenic hemangiosarcoma in dogs.

Methods: Parameters for dogs with hemangiosarcoma and nodular hyperplasia were compared, and an independent parameter that could differentiate between them was selected. Discriminant analysis was performed to assess the ability to discriminate the two splenic masses and compare the relative importance of the parameters.

Results: A total of 23 dogs were sampled, including 16 splenic nodular hyperplasia and seven hemangiosarcoma. Thirteen parameters had significant differences between hemangiosarcoma and nodular hyperplasia. Skewness in the first-order matrix and GLRLM_LGRE and GLZLM_ZLNU in the second, higher-order matrix were determined as independent parameters. A discriminant equation consisting of skewness, GLZLM_LGZE, and GLZLM_ZLNU was derived, and the cross-validation verification result showed an accuracy of 95.7%.

Limitations: The study had a retrospective design and included only 23 dogs with splenic masses because only dogs with hemangiosarcoma or benign nodular hyperplasia confirmed through histopathological or cytological examination were included.

Conclusions: The study results supported using CT texture analysis to help differentiate hemangiosarcoma from nodular hyperplasia in dogs. This new diagnostic approach can be used for developing future machine learning-based texture analysis tools.

Transverse plane of contrast-enhanced CT images of (A) benign nodular hyperplasia and (B, C) splenic hemangiosarcoma. A, The mass shows an internal heterogenous enhancement with a strong enhanced margin. B, The mass has a homogenous hypoattenuation compared to the normal parenchyma. A mild fat stranding is visible around the mass. C, In this hemangiosarcoma, it is difficult to marginate the splenic mass (arrow) due to a large amount of ascites

How did we do?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Disclaimer: The summary generated in this email was created by an AI large language model. Therefore errors may occur. Reading the article is the best way to understand the scholarly work. The figure presented here remains the property of the publisher or author and subject to the applicable copyright agreement. It is reproduced here as an educational work. If you have any questions or concerns about the work presented here, reply to this email.

The View Box runs on AI and caffeine. If you want to buy me a coffee, feel free to upgrade. A coffee in my cafeteria is $2.07. If you want to buy me one coffee pick a yearly subscription. If you want to buy one a month, pick the monthly subscription.

There are no benefits to premium subscription.