Estimation by MRI of tumor volume is useful to evaluate the extrauterine progress in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Tumor volume was estimated prior to surgery according to the T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 40 cases of cervical cancer. Tumorous space was calculated from the picture on the computer image imported from MRI films. Total volume of the cancer mass was then calculated by integration of the space in regard to the slice diameter. Tumor contour was positively portrayed and total volume was estimated in 30 out of 40 cases. Twenty-two of 23 cases (95.7%) with a volume over 3000 mm3 were revealed to have parametrial invasion and/or pelvic lymph node metastasis. None of 4 cases with a volume less than 1000 mm3 and 10 cases in which no tumor was exhibited were revealed to have any extrauterine progress. These results suggest that the estimation of tumor volume using this method is useful to predict extrautrine progress prior to surgery, and would be useful in planning cervical cancer therapy. (author)