Morphological MRI-based features provide pretreatment survival prediction in glioblastoma.

OBJECTIVES: We wished to determine whether tumor morphology descriptors obtained from pretreatment magnetic resonance images and clinical variables could predict survival for glioblastoma patients. METHODS: A cohort of 404 glioblastoma patients (311 discoveries and 93 validations) was used in the study. Pretreatment volumetric postcontrast T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were segmented to obtain the relevant morphological measures. Kaplan-Meier, Cox proportional hazards, correlations, and Harrell's concordance indexes (c-indexes) were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: A linear prognostic model based on the outstanding variables (age, contrast-enhanced (CE) rim width, and surface regularity) identified a group of patients with significantly better survival (p < 0.001, HR = 2.57) with high accuracy (discovery c-index = 0.74; validation c-index = 0.77). A similar model applied to totally resected patients was also able to predict survival (p < 0.001, HR = 3.43) with high predictive value (discovery c-index = 0.81; validation c-index = 0.92). Biopsied patients with better survival were well identified (p < 0.001, HR = 7.25) by a model including age and CE volume (c-index = 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Simple linear models based on small sets of meaningful MRI-based pretreatment morphological features and age predicted survival of glioblastoma patients to a high degree of accuracy. The partition of the population using the extent of resection improved the prognostic value of those measures. KEY POINTS: • A combination of two MRI-based morphological features (CE rim width and surface regularity) and patients' age outperformed previous prognosis scores for glioblastoma. • Prognosis models for homogeneous surgical procedure groups led to even more accurate survival prediction based on Kaplan-Meier analysis and concordance indexes.

Correction to: Morphological MRI-based features provide pretreatment survival prediction in glioblastoma.

The original version of this article, published on 15 October 2018, unfortunately contained a mistake. The following correction has therefore been made in the original: The name of Mariano Amo-Salas and the affiliation of Ismael Herruzo were presented incorrectly.

Tumor Surface Regularity at MR Imaging Predicts Survival and Response to Surgery in Patients with Glioblastoma.

Purpose To evaluate the prognostic and predictive value of surface-derived imaging biomarkers obtained from contrast material-enhanced volumetric T1-weighted pretreatment magnetic resonance (MR) imaging sequences in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Materials and Methods A discovery cohort from five local institutions (165 patients; mean age, 62 years ± 12 [standard deviation]; 43% women and 57% men) and an independent validation cohort (51 patients; mean age, 60 years ± 12; 39% women and 61% men) from The Cancer Imaging Archive with volumetric T1-weighted pretreatment contrast-enhanced MR imaging sequences were included in the study. Clinical variables such as age, treatment, and survival were collected. After tumor segmentation and image processing, tumor surface regularity, measuring how much the tumor surface deviates from a sphere of the same volume, was obtained. Kaplan-Meier, Cox proportional hazards, correlations, and concordance indexes were used to compare variables and patient subgroups. Results Surface regularity was a powerful predictor of survival in the discovery (P = .005, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.61) and validation groups (P = .05, HR = 1.84). Multivariate analysis selected age and surface regularity as significant variables in a combined prognostic model (P < .001, HR = 3.05). The model achieved concordance indexes of 0.76 and 0.74 for the discovery and validation cohorts, respectively. Tumor surface regularity was a predictor of survival for patients who underwent complete resection (P = .01, HR = 1.90). Tumors with irregular surfaces did not benefit from total over subtotal resections (P = .57, HR = 1.17), but those with regular surfaces did (P = .004, HR = 2.07). Conclusion The surface regularity obtained from high-resolution contrast-enhanced pretreatment volumetric T1-weighted MR images is a predictor of survival in patients with glioblastoma. It may help in classifying patients for surgery.

Glioblastoma: does the pre-treatment geometry matter? A postcontrast T1 MRI-based study.

BACKGROUND: The potential of a tumour's volumetric measures obtained from pretreatment MRI sequences of glioblastoma (GBM) patients as predictors of clinical outcome has been controversial. Mathematical models of GBM growth have suggested a relation between a tumour's geometry and its aggressiveness. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective clinical study was designed to study volumetric and geometrical measures on pretreatment postcontrast T1 MRIs of 117 GBM patients. Clinical variables were collected, tumours segmented, and measures computed including: contrast enhancing (CE), necrotic, and total volumes; maximal tumour diameter; equivalent spherical CE width and several geometric measures of the CE "rim". The significance of the measures was studied using proportional hazards analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier and univariate Cox survival analysis showed that total volume [p = 0.034, Hazard ratio (HR) = 1.574], CE volume (p = 0.017, HR = 1.659), spherical rim width (p = 0.007, HR = 1.749), and geometric heterogeneity (p = 0.015, HR = 1.646) were significant parameters in terms of overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox analysis for OS provided the later two parameters as age-adjusted predictors of OS (p = 0.043, HR = 1.536 and p = 0.032, HR = 1.570, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients with tumours having small geometric heterogeneity and/or spherical rim widths had significantly better prognosis. These novel imaging biomarkers have a strong individual and combined prognostic value for GBM patients. KEY POINTS: • Three-dimensional segmentation on magnetic resonance images allows the study of geometric measures. • Patients with small width of contrast enhancing areas have better prognosis. • The irregularity of contrast enhancing areas predicts survival in glioblastoma patients.

Tumour heterogeneity in glioblastoma assessed by MRI texture analysis: a potential marker of survival.

OBJECTIVE:: The main objective of this retrospective work was the study of three-dimensional (3D) heterogeneity measures of post-contrast pre-operative MR images acquired with T1 weighted sequences of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) as predictors of clinical outcome. METHODS:: 79 patients from 3 hospitals were included in the study. 16 3D textural heterogeneity measures were computed including run-length matrix (RLM) features (regional heterogeneity) and co-occurrence matrix (CM) features (local heterogeneity). The significance of the results was studied using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards analysis. Correlation between the variables of the study was assessed using the Spearman's correlation coefficient. RESULTS:: Kaplan-Meyer survival analysis showed that 4 of the 11 RLM features and 4 of the 5 CM features considered were robust predictors of survival. The median survival differences in the most significant cases were of over 6 months. CONCLUSION:: Heterogeneity measures computed on the post-contrast pre-operative T1 weighted MR images of patients with GBM are predictors of survival. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:: Texture analysis to assess tumour heterogeneity has been widely studied. However, most works develop a two-dimensional analysis, focusing only on one MRI slice to state tumour heterogeneity. The study of fully 3D heterogeneity textural features as predictors of clinical outcome is more robust and is not dependent on the selected slice of the tumour.

Mejora en el control local en mujeres jóvenes con cáncer de mama precoz añadiendo una sola fracción de braquiterapia de alta tasa de dosis / Improved local control in young women with early-stage breast cancer by adding a single fraction of high-dose-rate brachytherapy

Objetivo. Evaluar la eficacia de la braquiterapia con iridio-192 de alta tasa de dosis con una sola fracción como sobreimpresión después de irradiar la mama en mujeres de hasta 45 años. Pacientes y métodos. Se estudiaron 167 pacientes consecutivas con tumores T1-2, entre 26-45 años, sometidas a cirugía conservadora con bordes libres y radioterapia (46-50 Gy) por carcinoma de mama infiltrante entre 1999 y 2008. Se realizó implante con agujas metálicas paralelas bajo anestesia local y sedación de forma ambulatoria. La quimioterapia se utilizó en el 85% (66% adyuvante, 19% neoadyuvante) y la hormonoterapia en el 77%. Se administró una dosis única de 7 Gy con braquiterapia de alta tasa de dosis (fast-boost). Resultados. El seguimiento mediano fue de 69 meses. Ocho pacientes recayeron en el lecho o en el margen tumoral con un control actuarial local de 95,6% a 10 años (tasa de recaída 4,4%). Hubo una recaída en otro cuadrante, por tanto, el control local en la mama fue de 94,1%. Las pacientes hasta 40 años recayeron en la mama en un 6,9% a los 10 años. Ventidós pacientes desarrollaron metástasis. La supervivencia libre de enfermedad y global fue de 85,5 y 92%, respectivamente. Los resultados cosméticos fueron buenos/excelentes en el 97%. La toxicidad aguda y tardía fueron mínimas. Conclusiones. El fast-boost con una sola fracción es una técnica rápida, sencilla y eficaz cuando los márgenes quirúrgicos están libres. El control local en las mujeres jóvenes se ha mejorado respecto a la literatura, por lo que se recomienda la preservación de la mama con este esquema

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of a single fraction of high-dose-rate iridium-192 brachytherapy as a boost after irradiation of the breast in women aged 45 or less. Patients and methods. We studied 167 consecutive patients with T1-2 tumors, aged between 26 and 45 years undergoing conservative surgery with free margins and radiotherapy (46-50 Gy) for invasive breast carcinoma between 1999 and 2008. Parallel metal needles were implanted under local anesthesia and sedation on an outpatient basis. Chemotherapy was used in 85% (66% adjuvant and 19% neoadjuvant) and hormonal therapy in 77%. A single 7 Gy-dose of high-dose rate brachytherapy ("fast boost") was administered. Results. The median follow-up was 69 months. In 8 patients, recurrences occurred in the tumor bed or in the margin with an actuarial local control of 95.6% at 10 years (relapse rate 4.4%). There was a relapse in another quadrant and therefore breast control was 94.1%. In patients aged up to 40 years, the breast failure rate was 6.9% at 10 years. Metastases developed in 22 patients. Disease-free survival was 85.5% and overall survival was 92%. Cosmetic results were good or excellent in 97% and acute and late toxicity was minimal. Conclusions. The fast boost technique with a single fraction is fast, simple, and effective when surgical margins are free. Local control in young women has improved compared with prior reports in the literature. Therefore, this technique can be recommended for breast preservation