Calcs (tumor size) question if I may...

Hi All

We saw GG's uro today for his 21 month post-op check up. A great result (undetectable), but an interesting conversation that left me with a question about his tumor size. His pathology report says his prostate (and attached seminal vesicles) were 53 x 45 x 44mm; weighing 48 grams (or 1.7 oz). His tumor volume was 4.7cc.

I (wrongly) assumed that because his prostate weighed 48g and the tumor was 4.7cc, that the tumor occupied approximately 10% of his prostate. Wrong! When I asked his uro why the tumor looks so big in all the pics, he said "that's because it was - it was a very large tumor and took up AT LEAST 30% or more of his prostate".

Oh...! So clearly my feeble attempts at figuring out the % volume were way off the mark!

Would anyone have an idea how to work this out with any degree of accuracy? I'll need to change GG's signature to reflect this, but it would be good to get it (approximately) right!

Thanks so much in advance, and best to you all.

Jaybee&GG

Interesting question. According my path report my mainly peripheric apical-lateral tumor occupied about 18% of the prostate but my prostate was greater that 100 grs. This gives about 20 c.c. but not volume or length were actually mentioned. However, MRI showed a 2x1.3 cm. tumor that corresponds to a maximum of about 4 c.c. tumor volume. These figures are somehow similar to yours for a larger prostate. Although I know it is much less accurate, biopsy only showed a maximum tumor length of 3.5 mm. and only two cores out of 8. I wonder if these results are compatible with a 20 c.c.peripherical tumor. I know pathologists make an estimation of the percentage, but not sure of what that this figure exactly means, maybe it does not considers the whole prostate since I think part of it is just muscular tissue. Seminal vesicles are also weighted together with the prostate, not sure how much they weight. Medical reports are ambiguous, contradictory or confusing too many times and some patients like us tend to stablish our own conclusions witout having the whole picture of what some data really mean.

OMG Allen - that is truly the first time I think I have ever seen you 'stumped' about anything!!
But seriously... me too!
When you see the pics of the prostate and accompanying tumor - it (the tumor) sure does take up a very large percentage of it. I'm wondering whether someone has made a typo somewhere. But keep thinking SURELY that's not possible on a path report? Hmmmm....
Thanks so much for the response folks - really appreciate it. Guess i'll just have to go on the (approximately 30%) statement then.