Response Analysis of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Volumes

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the volume of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NELs) using semiautomatic segmentation and to correlate these results with clinical findings, treatment, and prognosis in patients with B-cell-type NHL. Methods: For this study, 29 patients with NHL underwent magnetic resonance imaging at 5 time points after onset of disease. Volumetric analysis of the tumors was accomplished with semiautomatic segmentation by the Anatomatic software. Results: The median tumor volumes from the first to the fifth examination were 468, 256, 90, 38, and 33 cm(3). Good correlation with I-dimensional and 2-dimensional measures used as standard methods in response categorization, was found. Surprisingly, volume reductions in excess of 239 cm(3) after only 1 week of chemotherapy decreased the survival probability. Conclusions: Volume measurements seem to be highly informative for prognosis in the very early stages of treatment for patients with NHL.