Microcomputer-based technique for 3-D reconstruction and volume measurement of computed tomographic images. Comparison of geometric and planimetry post-operative tumor volume effects on patient survival
The relationship between brain tumor size and survival has been studied since the advent of CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), however, all published studies are based on tumor sizes measured by the less accurate geometric method, with results that are inconsistent. For example, the influence of the extent of tumor resection on patient survival has been debated. Jelsma and Bucy advocated extensive resection based on their analysis of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, however, Green et al. produced conflicting results, showing that the extent of resection was not statistically significant when all variables were considered simultaneously. The present study investigates whether or not the study inconsistency is largely due to the use of the less accurate geometric tumor volume measurement. The study demonstrates that the geometric tumor volume and the planimetry tumor volume have significantly different prognostic effects.
ct mri geometric method planimetry method weibull exponential distribution cox proportional hazard regression kaplan meier confounding factors