Purpose.Tumour diameter,tumour height,and tumour volume are considered important pro gnostic indicators of survival in choroidal melanomas.In this study,we inves-tigated the prognostic impact on sur vival of the easily cal-culated volume estimate based on the assumption of a half-rotation ellipsoid.Methods.The largest tumour diam-eter and tumour height were measured by ultrasound A-and B-scan in 93patients with choroidal melanoma.Tumour volume was calculated by the half volume of a rotation el-lipsoid formula,rotated around the y-axis,and compared to tumour diameter and tumour height.A ll parameters were correlated to the clinical outcome o f the patients.Results.At the time of diagnosis,the mean dia meter was 10.4mm(range 4.1-18.9mm),and the mean height was 5.7mm(range 1.74-14.9mm).The range of the calculated tu-mour volume was between 11and 628mm 3 (mean volume 190mm 3 ).Among all patients,distant metastases occurred in 10patients(10.8%).In a univariate approach using Mantel-Haenszel log-rank test,the calculated tumour vol-ume at the time of diagnosis was the best prognostic indicator of survival followed by tu mour diameter and tu-mour height (P=0.028).When tumour volume,hori-zontal and vertical tumour diameter,age,sex,and primary tumour therapy were considered in a multivariate approach using Cox proportional Hazard model,only tumour volume turned out as a significant prognostic parameter(P=0.001).Conclusions.Calculated tumour volume is a bet-ter prognostic indicator of survival of patients with choroidal melanomas than the largest tumour di ameter and tumour height,and might be established in d aily routine.
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