IS TUMOR VOLUME MEASUREMENT MORE BENEFICIAL THAN TUMOR DIAMETER IN BREAST CANCER STAGING?

Purpose: The aim of the present study is to determine whether or not tumor volume can be used instead of tumor diameter in breast cancer staging and the relation between tumor volume and survival. Patients and method: The preoperative tumor sizes and the results of postoperative pathological staging of 194 patients who underwent surgery with the diagnosis of T1-3, N0-3, M0 breast cancer and also fulfilled the study criteria were retrospectively evaluated. The tumor volume was estimated by using the tumor diameter and the width which were specified according to the highest value at the mammographic and ultrasonographic examinations and using the tumor depth which was designated according to the ultrasonographic measurement. The tumor volumes were categorized as, <= 4cm(3), 4.1-14 cm(3), 14.1-32 cm(3) ve >= 32.1 cm(3). (<= 23, >23 - <= 33, >33 - <= 43 ve >43). Results: The tumor volume had better correlation than the tumor diameter with the classification of lymph node, (R=0.45; p<0.0001 vs R=0.23; p=0.001) pathological stage of the tumor (R=0.52; p<0.0001 vs R=0.43; p<0.0001) and patient survival (R= -0.33; p<0.0001 vs R= -0.18; p<0.012). Moreover, it was detected that the tumor volume had superiority in the univariant analysis and regression tests. Conclusion: According to the results of our study including limited number of patients, it has been thought that the tumor volume which was of better correlation with the lymph node status, pathological stages of the tumor and survival of the patients can be used instead of the tumor diameter which is a standart clinical staging parameter and that trials of broad patient series are required in order to obtain more conclusive outcomes.