Texture analysis in multislice computed tomography of patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: correlation with HPV status and clinical/radiographic characteristics

• Grant number: 23/08428-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): October 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): September 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Radiology
• Principal Investigator: André Luiz Ferreira Costa
• Grantee: Daniel Vitor Aguiar Nozaki
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Universidade Cruzeiro do Sul (UNICSUL). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is a head and neck cancer associated with HPV. The degree of tumor cell differentiation and clinical/radiographic characteristics play a crucial role in determining the prognosis of the disease. Texture analysis in MSCT (Multislice Computed Tomography) provides a promising approach for evaluating intratumoral heterogeneity. The objective of this study is to investigate the correlation between texture analysis, degree of differentiation, HPV status, and clinical/radiographic characteristics in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Patients diagnosed with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and who underwent pretreatment MSCT will be included in the study. The CT images will be processed to extract texture parameters, which will then be correlated with the degree of differentiation, HPV status, as well as demographic factors such as age and sex, and clinical/radiographic features including tumor stage, size, and location. Statistical analysis will be performed to identify any associations and differences between the texture parameters and the clinical/radiographic characteristics. The findings of this study are expected to provide valuable insights into the utility of texture analysis in MSCT for evaluating the degree of differentiation, HPV status, and clinical/radiographic features in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. These results may enable more accurate risk stratification and personalized therapeutic planning for these patients.