Table 4 Comparison of quantitative dual-energy CT parameters between lateral metastatic and nonmetastatic lymph nodes in PTC patients with and without HT

Arterial phase

 IC (mg/mL)

1.950 (1.600–2.500)

1.300 (1.100–1.800)

4.700 (3.500–5.300)

1.100 (0.800–1.500)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.022

< 0.001

 NIC

0.243 (0.193–0.274)

0.157 (0.122–0.202)

0.467 (0.357–0.554)

0.125 (0.091–0.160)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.021

< 0.001

 Z_eff

8.500 (8.400–8.875)

8.200 (8.100–8.400)

9.600 (9.300–9.800)

8.100 (7.900–8.300)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.022

< 0.001

 λ_HU

3.968 (3.447–5.390)

2.757 (2.104–3.560)

9.807(6.403–10.395)

2.408 (1.641–3.204)

< 0.001

< 0.001

< 0.001

0.029

0.005

Venous phase

 IC (mg/mL)

2.250 (2.025–3.375)

2.100 (1.700–2.300)

3.000 (2.500–4.000)

1.800 (1.400–2.100)

< 0.001

0.013

< 0.001

0.018

< 0.001

 NIC

0.529 (0.412–0.695)

0.449 (0.376–0.517)

0.703 (0.591–0.840)

0.395 (0.326–0.468)

< 0.001

0.025

< 0.001

0.009

< 0.001

 Z_eff

8.700 (8.500–9.200)

8.600 (8.400–8.700)

9.100 (8.800–9.500)

8.500 (8.300–8.600)

< 0.001

0.040

< 0.001

0.007

< 0.001

 λ_HU

4.675 (3.682–6.652)

4.100 (3.489–4.902)

5.826 (4.748–7.902)

3.718 (2.979–4.264)

< 0.001

0.060

< 0.001

0.011

< 0.001