Tumor volume estimation by the percentage carcinoma method in uterine cervix carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To assess the capacity of the percentage carcinoma method to pre dict tumor volume in cervical carcinoma and generate a mathematical equatio n for calculation of tumor volume. STUDY DESIGN: Thirteen radical hysterectomy specimens were studied. The act ual tumor volume was assessed by stereology. A factor was generated by the formula tumor volume = factor x percentage carcinoma x number of blocks. Th e percentage carcinoma was calculated by the grid method. Then tumor volume was estimated by the same formula. The relationship between actual and est imated tumor volumes teas analyzed by Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: Correlation of the tumor volumes assessed by the two methods was e xcellent (r = .945) and statistically significant (P = .01). CONCLUSION: Percentage carcinoma assessed by the grid ratio method is highl y predictive of tumor volume, but care must be taken not to overstate the i mportance of our results due to the small number of patients. The predictio n of outcome in cervical carcinoma by means of percentage carcinoma should be evaluated in large clinical studies.