Radiomics on radiography predicts giant cell tumor histologic response to denosumab

Skeletal Radiol. 2021 Sep;50(9):1881-1887. doi: 10.1007/s00256-021-03752-5. Epub 2021 Mar 17.

Abstract

Objective: Denosumab is an established targeted systemic therapy for treatment of giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB). We sought to determine whether treatment response could be quantified from radiomics analysis of radiographs taken longitudinally during treatment.

Materials and methods: Pre- and post-treatment radiographs of 10 GCTB tumors from 10 patients demonstrating histologic response after treatment with denosumab were analyzed. Intensity- and texture-based radiomics features for each manually segmented tumor were calculated. Radiomics features were compared pre- and post-treatment in tumors.

Results: Mean intensity (p = 0.033) significantly increased while skewness (p = 0.028) significantly decreased after treatment. Post-treatment increases in fractal dimensions (p = 0.057) and abundance (p = 0.065) approached significance. A potential linear correlation in mean (p = 0.005; ΔMean = 0.022 * duration - 0.026) with treatment duration was observed.

Conclusion: Radiomics analysis of plain radiographs quantifies time-dependent matrix mineralization and trabecular reconstitution that mark positive response of giant cell tumors of bone to denosumab.

Keywords: Denosumab; Giant cell tumor; Radiograph; Radiomics; Treatment response.

MeSH terms

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Bone Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Bone Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Denosumab / therapeutic use
  • Giant Cell Tumor of Bone* / diagnostic imaging
  • Giant Cell Tumor of Bone* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Radiography

Substances

  • Bone Density Conservation Agents
  • Denosumab