MRI pre-treatment tumour volume in maxillary complex squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgical resection

Tumour volume (Tv) measurements obtained from pre-treatment CT and MRI have increasingly shown to be more reliable predictors of outcome than TNM stage. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation of MRI calculated maxillary complex tumour volume with patient outcome.MethodsThe medical records of 39 patients with squamous cell carcinoma involving the maxillary sinus, maxilla, hard palate and maxillary alveolus were reviewed and tumour volume measurements completed on pre-treatment MRI.ResultsThe mean tumour volume was 12.79 ± 24.31 cm3. Independent samples t test was significant for increasing overall all-cause survival and decreasing tumour volume (1 year: p = 0.003; 5-year: p = 0.031). Cox regression was significant for stratified tumour volume, nodal involvement and peri-neural invasion for predicting disease-free survival.ConclusionsMRI measured tumour volume assessment appears to be a reliable predictor of survival in patients with maxillary complex SCC treated by surgical resection.