Comparative study of measuring volumes of low-grade gliomas with formula calculation and three-dimensional reconstruction methods

Abstract

Objective To investigate the differences of describing tumor size according to the formula calculation and three-dimensional reconstruction methods. Methods From January 2013 to March 2015, the magnetic resonance images of 90 patients with low-grade glioma treated at the cooperation wards of the Department of Neurosurgeries, Beijing Puren Hospital and Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University were collected. The volumes of the tumors were measured by formula calculation and three-dimensional reconstruction methods. Statistical tests were used to compare the differences of tumor volume obtained by different methods. Results There was no significant difference in measuring the tumor volume in all cases between the two methods (P=0.158). In 12 patients with a ratio of anteroposterior diameter and transverse diameter >1.2, the tumor volume measured by the formula calculation method was significantly less than that measured by the three-dimensional reconstruction method (P=0.002). In patients whose tumor volume <60 cm3 measured by the three-dimensional reconstruction method, the tumor volume measured by the formula calculation method was significantly less than that of the three-dimensional reconstruction method (P<0.001). Conclusions The formula calculation method can be used as a primary measurement of tumor volume in clinical practice. However, when the tumor is irregular or its volume is smaller, the tumor volume measured by the formula calculation method may have deviation with the tumor actual volume, then, the three-dimensional reconstruction method should be considered. Key words: Gliomas; Magnetic resonance imaging; Tumor volume; Three-dimensional reconstruction