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 turner volumes were 306 cm 3, 174 cm(3), 75 cm(3), 28 cm(3), and 15 cm(3) 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.