title: Liver volume variations as a parameter to assess therapy response in advanced metastatic liver disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate liver volume variations (LVV) as a parameter to assess the therapy response in patients with advanced liver metastasis (aLM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with colorectal cancer and consecutive computed tomography (CT) scans were divided into a group with aLM receiving palliative chemotherapy (n = 24) and a control group (n = 21) being followed after curative therapy. Liver volumetry was performed manually. The therapy response was assessed according to the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST, n = 69). LVV were compared between groups and to variations in the sum-of-longest-diameter (SLDV). Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, LVV were evaluated for distinguishing between progressive disease (PD) and stable disease (SD)/partial remission (PR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median LVV between patients with aLM (10.0%) and the control group (4.0%) differed significantly (p < 0.01). PD led to a larger median LVV (26.8%) than PR/SD (5.0%, p < 0.01). LVV in aLM patients correlated positively with SLDV (r = 0.71, p < 0.01). A cut-off value of 9.5% allowed distinguishing between PD and SD/PR (sensitivity: 86%, specificity: 88%, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LVV are helpful to assess PD in patients with aLM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Neuroradiology, University Hospital Essen, Germany. janine.kalkmann@uk-essen.de
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kalkmann
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forsting
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stattaus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents