Variation in tumor doubling time in patients with pulmonary metastatic disease

Abstract

Abstract Recent experience has shown that the tumor doubling time (TDT) is an easily measurable, uniform, and accurate method for judging the progression of pulmonary metastatic disease in patients. Forty‐five patients with multiple pulmonary metastatic foci present had their TDTs measured. In 37, the calculated TDTs for each individual were similar and allowed the patients to be placed in particular groups based on their growth rates. In eight patients, there was particularly wide variation in TDTs such that placement of these patients into a particular category was impossible. Prognosis in these individuals appeared to be determined by the more rapid TDT. Nevertheless, in the majority of instances, calculated TDTs appear to be similar in each patient, and this confirms the accuracy of measurement of TDT in patients with multiple metastatic foci. Reasons for the wide variations in TDTs seen in some patients are suggested.