Control Study between CT Signs and Pathological Subtypes and Differentiation Degree in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Background: To study the relationship between CT signs and pathological subtypes and differentiation degree in lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 394 cases’ CT images of lung adenocarcinoma and compared the diversity of images among PIL, MIA and IAC, as well as differentiation degrees of IAC by Kruskal-Wall test and X2 test. Results: There was no statistical difference of CT sign between PIL and MIA (P＞0.05). There are statistical differences among size and density of PIL, MIA and IAC (P＜0.01); the incidences of pleura traction sign, spicule sign, lobulation sign, tumor vascular sign, bronchial cut-off sign, air bronchogram sign and cavity sign in IAC were higher than the other two groups (P＜0.05); there was no statistical difference of vacuole sign among PIL, MIA and IAC (P＞0.05). There are statistical differences among size and density of three differentiated subgroups (P＜0.01); the incidences of pleura traction sign, spicule sign, tumor vascular sign, bronchial cut-off sign and cavity sign in poorly differentiated subgroup were highest (P＜0.01); the incidence of air bronchogram sign in highly differentiated subgroup was higher than moderately and poorly differentiated subgroup while incidence of lobulation sign was the lowest in three subgroups above (P＜0.05) ; there was no statistical difference of vacuole sign among three differentiated subgroups (P＞0.05). Conclusions: CT signs of lung adenocarcinoma are closely related to pathological subtypes and differentiation degrees，which would have great value to help predict tumor types and make treatment plans in clinical.