Quantitative texture analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) for evaluating histologic differentiated grade of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

To investigate the feasibility of using texture analysis (TA) of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to distinguish between well- and moderate- differentiated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). A total of 22 patients were retrospectively analyzed, including: well-differentiated degree SCC (WSCC, n=11) and moderate-differentiated degree SCC (MSCC, n=11). A Mean>101.38 at coarse texture scale (SSF=6mm) identified WSCC and MSCC with the highest AUC of 0.843±0.083 (Se=72.7%, Sp=81.8%, PPV=80%, PV=75%, and accuracy=77.3%). Texture analysis of ADC proved to be a feasible tool for differentiating WSCC from MSCC, and had better diagnostic performance than ADC value.