Radiomics Analysis of [F]FDG PET/CT Thyroid Incidentalomas: How Can It Improve Patients' Clinical Management? A Systematic Review from the Literature.
Mirela Gherghe, Alexandra Maria Lazar, Mario-Demian Mutuleanu, Adina Elena Stanciu, Sorina Martin
Author Information
Mirela Gherghe: Nuclear Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania.
Alexandra Maria Lazar: Nuclear Medicine Department, Institute of Oncology "Profesor Doctor Alexandru Trestioreanu", 022328 Bucharest, Romania. ORCID
Mario-Demian Mutuleanu: Nuclear Medicine Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila Bucharest, 050474 Bucharest, Romania. ORCID
Adina Elena Stanciu: Carcinogenesis and Molecular Biology Department, Institute of Oncology "Profesor Doctor Alexandru Trestioreanu", 022328 Bucharest, Romania. ORCID
Sorina Martin: Endocrinology Department, Elias Emergency University Clinic Hospital, 011461 Bucharest, Romania. ORCID
BACKGROUND: We performed a systematic review of the literature to provide an overview of the application of PET-based radiomics of [F]FDG-avid thyroid incidentalomas and to discuss the additional value of PET volumetric parameters and radiomic features over clinical data. METHODS: The most relevant databases were explored using an algorithm constructed based on a combination of terms related to our subject and English-language articles published until October 2021 were considered. Among the 247 identified articles, 19 studies were screened for eligibility and 11 met the criteria, with 4 studies including radiomics analyses. RESULTS: We summarized the available literature based on a study of PET volumetric parameters and radiomics. Ten articles provided accurate details about volumetric parameters and their prospective value in tumour assessment. We included the data provided by these articles in a sub-analysis, but could not obtain statistically relevant results. Four publications analyzed the diagnostic potential of radiomics and the possibility of creating precise predictive models, their corresponding quality score being assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PET volumetric parameters and radiomics analysis in patients with [F]FDG-avid thyroid incidentalomas outlines a great prospect in diagnosis and stratification of patients with malignant nodules and may represent a way of limiting the need for unnecessary invasive procedures; however, further studies need to be performed for a standardization of the method.
