Fig. 2
CECT-derived imaging feature analysis for a 60-year-old male ESCC patient with LVI. The tumor was located in the upper esophagus and had a postoperative pathological stage of pT3N2M0 (G3). a Axial CECT image shows a tumor with heterogeneous enhancement and irregular tumor margin. EVFDT (white arrows) is visible in the interior and at the tumor margin. Tumor necrosis (black arrowhead) appears as hypodense foci within the tumor. b The maximum thickness of the tumor measured on axial CECT image was 2.05 cm and an adjacent eccentrically narrowed lumen (black arrow) can be seen. c The maximum length of the tumor was 6.70 cm, as measured on the sagittal image. d–f The CTVTumor was measured by placing ROIs (green circle) at the 3 consecutive levels with the most pronounced tumor enhancement. The CTVTumor was 75.80 HU = (73.72HU + 77.23HU + 76.44HU)/3. g–i The mean CT attenuation value of the normal esophageal wall was measured by placing ROIs (green circle) at 3 consecutive levels with the homogenous enhancement. The CTVNormal was 38.02 HU = (35.14HU + 36.79HU + 42.15HU)/3. The ΔTN was 37.78HU = 75.80 HU-38.02 HU. The TNR was 1.99 = 75.80HU/38.02 HU