title: Prognostic classification with laboratory parameters or imaging techniques in small-cell lung cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim in this study was to compare prognostic models based on laboratory tests with a model including imaging information in small-cell lung cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed on 156 consecutive patients. Three existing models based on laboratory tests and performance status (PS) and a model based on disease stage assessed by imaging techniques and PS were tested with Cox regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3 laboratory-based models and the imaging-based model were significant in predicting prognosis in our patient group, with hazard ratios of 1.6-3 for medium prognosis groups and 2.6-6.1 for poor prognosis groups compared with good prognosis groups. Models based on laboratory tests appear to predict survival probabilities at least as well as a model with information from imaging techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prognostic models using PS and laboratory tests provide a similar estimation of survival of patients with small-cell lung cancer as the combination of PS and disease stage assessed by imaging tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. w.k.de.jong@int.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Wouter K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: de Jong
authors.forename: Vaclav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fidler
authors.forename: Harry Jm
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Groen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000145:classification* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed