Predicting postoperative lung function in lung cancer patients by using imaging biomarkers

Abstract

Background There were previous studies to predict postoperative lung function with pulmonary function test (PFT). Computing tomography (CT) can quantitatively measure small airway wall thickness, lung volume, pulmonary vessel volume, and emphysema area, which reflect the severity of respiratory diseases. These measurements are considered as imaging biomarkers. This study aimed to predict postoperative lung function with imaging biomarkers. Methods Retrospective analysis of 79 lung cancer patients who underwent lung surgery was completed. Postoperative lung function measured by forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was defined as an outcome. Preoperative clinico-pathological parameters and imaging biomarkers representing airway wall thickness, severity of emphysema, total lung volume, and pulmonary vessel volume were measured quantitatively in chest CT by an automated segmentation software, AVIEW COPD. Logistic and linear regression were used to assess these variables. If the actual postoperative FEV1 was higher than the projected postoperative FEV1 by a formula, the group was considered to be preserved. Results Among 79 patients, 16 patients were grouped as a non-preserved group and 63 were grouped as a preserved group. Patients in the preserved FEV1 group had a higher vessel volume than the non-preserved group. Pi1 and Wafw were independent predictors of postoperative lung function. Conclusion Imaging biomarkers can be considered as significant variables in predicting postoperative lung function in patients with lung cancer.