Lung lesion doubling times: values and variability based on method of volume determination.
OBJECTIVE
To determine doubling times (DTs) of lung lesions based on volumetric measurements from thin-section CT imaging.


METHODS
Previously untreated patients with > or = two thin-section CT scans showing a focal lung lesion were identified. Lesion volumes were derived using direct volume measurements and volume calculations based on lesion area and diameter. Growth rates (GRs) were compared by tissue diagnosis and measurement technique.


RESULTS
54 lesions were evaluated including 8 benign lesions, 10 metastases, 3 lymphomas, 15 adenocarcinomas, 11 squamous carcinomas, and 7 miscellaneous lung cancers. Using direct volume measurements, median DTs were 453, 111, 15, 181, 139 and 137 days, respectively. Lung cancer DTs ranged from 23-2239 days. There were no significant differences in GRs among the different lesion types. There was considerable variability among GRs using different volume determination methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Lung cancer doubling times showed a substantial range, and different volume determination methods gave considerably different DTs.
Quint
Leslie Eisenbud
LE
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Health System, 1500 East Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0030, USA. lequint@umich.edu
Cheng
Joan
J
Schipper
Matthew
M
Chang
Andrew C
AC
Kalemkerian
Gregory
G
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed