Computed tomography-based tumor volume in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: clinical correlation and comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic significance of tumor volume in computed tomographic (CT) images of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. To compare CT volumes with those measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS: Twenty-five patients with B cell-type non-Hodgkin lymphoma (16 men, 9 women, age range, 48-77 years) were imaged with CT at 5 time points. The volumes and volume reductions were associated with clinical characteristics and treatment outcome. The CT-derived tumor volumes were correlated with MRI volumes derived earlier for the same patients.

RESULTS: Good agreement was found between 1-dimensional (1D), 2D, and 3D analyses. The CT-derived median tumor volumes were 306 cm, 174 cm, 75 cm, 28 cm, and 15 cm at the 5 time points. These volumes were found to associate, for example, with mortality and tumor malignancy. The CT-based tumor volumes showed good correlation with MRI.

CONCLUSIONS: Tumor volume quantification is a powerful tool that associates with clinical characteristics and treatment outcome.