Fig. 5

The higher intensity of the PC cluster and lower intensity of m/z 736.5276 reflect the likelihood of postoperative recurrence and histopathological prognostic factors. a The higher PC cluster level of the ADC cohort was significantly associated with greater likelihoods of progressed T-factor (≥ pT2) and pleural invasion (indicated in red). Recurrence, differentiation (≥ G2), and STAS showed tendencies of moderate likelihood, though they did not reach significance. b The lower m/z 736.5276 level of the SQCC cohort was strongly associated only with a greater likelihood of recurrence (indicated in red). Abbreviations: ADC, Adenocarcinoma; CI, confidence interval; ID, Identification number; m/z, Mass-to-charge ratio; PC, Phosphatidylcholine; SQCC, Squamous cell carcinoma; STAS, spread through air space