Work in progress: serial evaluation of tumor volume using computed tomography and contrast kinetics

Area of Science:

• Radiology and Medical Imaging
• Oncology
• Pharmacokinetics

Background:

• Computed tomography (CT) is a vital imaging modality for assessing treatment efficacy in oncology.
• Evaluating tumor volume changes quantitatively provides insights into therapeutic response.
• Intravenous contrast agents are frequently used in CT to enhance tumor visualization and characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of computed tomography in assessing tumor volume changes following therapy.
• To correlate changes in tumor volume with the behavior of intravenous diatrizoate contrast material.
• To identify potential contrast material markers for therapeutically induced tumor volume changes.

Main Methods:

• Computed tomography scans were performed before and after therapy for nine human neoplasms.
• Tumor volumes were calculated from pre- and posttreatment CT images.
• The distribution volume of intravenous diatrizoate contrast material at five minutes was measured and correlated with tumor volume changes.

Main Results:

• Tumor volume changes after therapy were successfully evaluated using computed tomography.
• A correlation was observed between tumor volume changes and the behavior of diatrizoate contrast material.
• The five-minute diatrizoate distribution volume showed a direct relationship with tumor volume changes: decreasing volumes correlated with decreased diatrizoate distribution, and increasing volumes correlated with increased diatrizoate distribution.

Conclusions:

• Computed tomography is effective for monitoring tumor volume changes after therapeutic interventions.
• The five-minute diatrizoate distribution volume emerges as a promising contrast material marker for assessing therapeutically induced tumor volume modifications.
• This marker may aid in predicting or evaluating treatment response in neoplastic diseases.