Univariate Analysis of Variables Associated with Malignancy
| 95% CI | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variable | n | Odds ratio | Lower | Upper | P |
| SUV max: increase in odds of malignancy per unit SUV max | 103 | 1.70 | 1.31 | 2.21 | <0.001 |
| Purity: reduced odds of malignancy if pure | 103 | 0.06 | 0.02 | 0.15 | <0.001 |
| Percentage symmetry: increase in odds per unit percentage L to R difference in SUV | 103 | 1.04 | 1.02 | 1.07 | <0.001 |
| Primary site: change in odds relative to sites other than breast, colorectal, or lymphoma | 0.038 | ||||
| Other | 34 | 1 | |||
| Breast | 12 | 1.24 | 0.31 | 4.95 | |
| Colorectal | 20 | 0.21 | 0.06 | 0.70 | |
| Lymphoma | 37 | 0.65 | 0.25 | 1.68 | |
| Percentage difference in SUV max: increase in odds per percentage change in SUV on 2 scans | 52 | 1.03 | 1.01 | 1.05 | 0.002 |
| Enlargement on CT: increase in odds of malignancy if nodes are enlarged on CT | 35 | 4.77 | 1.14 | 19.98 | 0.027 |
SUV max, purity, primary site, enlarged size by CT, and symmetry (absolute value of left-to-right SUV difference) were tested as potential predictors of malignancy. In reduced dataset of patients with 2 scans, change in SUV max (absolute value of change in SUV max divided by initial SUV max) was also tested.