Language

English

Publication Date

4-1-2025

Journal

Cancer

DOI

10.1002/cncr.35815

PMID

40159431

PMCID

PMC12067423

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

4-1-2026

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Abstract

Background: Pathologic extranodal extension (pENE) is a crucial prognostic factor in oropharyngeal cancer (OPC), but determining pENE from imaging has high inter-observer variability. The role of clinician specialty in the accuracy of imaging-detected extranodal extension (iENE) remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to assess the influence of clinician specialty on the accuracy of preoperative iENE detection in human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive OPC using computed tomography (CT) imaging.

Methods: This prospective observational study evaluated pretherapy CT images from 24 HPV-positive OPC patients (30 scans, including duplicates). Thirty-four expert observers (11 radiologists, 12 surgeons, 11 radiation oncologists) assessed iENE and reported radiologic criteria and confidence. Ground-truth pENE status was confirmed pathologically. Accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, and Brier scores were compared across specialties. Logistic regression determined significant predictors of pENE, whereas Fleiss' kappa measured interobserver agreement.

Results: Median accuracy was 0.57 (95% CI, 0.39-0.73), with no specialty showing performance beyond chance (median area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.64). Minor differences were noted: surgeons had lower Brier scores (0.26 vs. 0.33, p < .01) and higher sensitivity (0.69 vs. 0.48) compared to radiologists and oncologists. Predictive signs included indistinct capsular contour and nodal necrosis. Interobserver agreement was weak (κ < 0.6).

Conclusions: Diagnostic performance for iENE on CT in HPV-positive OPC remains poor across specialties, with high variability and low accuracy. These findings highlight the need for automated systems or improved imaging methods to enhance iENE assessments.

Keywords

Humans, Oropharyngeal Neoplasms, Male, Female, Prospective Studies, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Middle Aged, Observer Variation, Aged, Extranodal Extension, Papillomavirus Infections, Preoperative Care, ROC Curve, Adult, Extranodal Extension, Oropharyngeal Cancer, Observer Variability

Published Open-Access

yes

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