Use of volumetric CT scanning to predict tumor staging and survival in pancreatic cancer patients that are to be administered curative resection.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the achievability of CT volumetry of pancreatic cancer and its correlation with pTNM stage and survival. METHODS: Tumor volume was measured from contrast enhanced CT images of 58 patients who undergo curative resection for pancreatic cancer using the Segment Editor module implemented in 3D-Slicer-a free open source software platform. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate correlation between Tvol and pTNM staging. RESULTS: The preoperative images of 58 pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients were included. The mean Tvol of pancreatic cancer is an increasing trend with T stage (The mean T1vol = 1.75 cm3 , the mean T2vol = 11.43 cm3 , the mean T3vol = 14.98 cm3 , the mean T4vol = 19.6 cm3 ). There were statistical differences between volumes (p = .000). On ROC analysis, the area under the ROC curve (Az) of Tvol to differentiate T1 stage from ≥T2 stage was 0.966 (p = .000). At a cut-off value of 3.050 cm3 , sensitivity of 92.3%, and specificity of 83.3% were achieved. Az value of Tvol to differentiate ≤T2 from ≥T3 stage was 0.750 (p = .010). At a cut-off value of 10.250 cm3 , sensitivity of 72.7% and specificity of 66% were achieved. In addition Az value of Tvol to differentiate ≤T3 from ≥T4 stage was 0.652 and was not significant (p = .380). At a cut-off value of 11.2 cm3 , sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 63.6% were achieved. CONCLUSION: CT volumetry in pancreatic cancer is feasible with excellent reproducibility. It is one of the prognostic factors affecting survival in operated patients with pancreatic cancer.