Table 2 Comparison of quantitative dual-energy CT parameters between metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes in PTC patients with and without HT

Arterial phase

 IC (mg/mL)

2.200 (1.600–2.700)

1.500 (1.100–2.000)

4.000 (3.000–5.000)

1.100 (0.800–1.500)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 NIC

0.251 (0.193–0.306)

0.169 (0.128–0.219)

0.432 (0.335–0.512)

0.125 (0.091–0.160)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 Z_eff

8.700 (8.400–9.000)

8.300 (8.150–8.600)

9.400 (9.050–9.700)

8.100 (7.900–8.300)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

 λ_HU

4.454 (3.515–5.457)

3.086 (2.289–4.041)

7.573 (5.518–9.867)

2.408 (1.641–3.204)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

Venous phase

 IC (mg/mL)

2.300 (1.775–3.400)

2.100 (1.700–2.400)

3.200 (2.600–3.900)

1.800 (1.400–2.100)

< 0.001

0.018

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.001

 NIC

0.488 (0.385–0.658)

0.447 (0.364–0.525)

0.698 (0.570–0.837)

0.395 (0.326–0.468)

< 0.001

0.167

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.004

 Z_eff

8.700 (8.400–9.200)

8.600 (8.400–8.750)

9.100 (8.800–9.450)

8.500 (8.300–8.600)

< 0.001

0.045

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.001

 λ_HU

4.760 (3.856–6.708)

4.121 (3.434–5.056)

6.166 (4.795–7.828)

3.718 (2.979–4.264)

< 0.001

0.005

< 0.001

0.003

0.001