A brain scan measurement is linked to how long people lived
Original title: Prognostic value of the Evans index in neoplastic meningitis: a real-world cohort study.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This was a look back at past patient records, not a test of a treatment.
The short version
A simple measure taken from a brain scan may help doctors talk about what lies ahead.
What was studied. Doctors looked back at 345 people with cancer that had spread to the lining of the brain. Each person had a brain scan, and doctors measured the fluid spaces in the brain. That measure is called the Evans index.
What they found. For the whole group, typical survival was 6.9 months. People with a lower Evans index lived 7.36 months. People with a higher Evans index lived 2.99 months. The link stayed even after doctors accounted for age, sex, the first cancer, and how well people were doing day to day.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: This measure comes from scans many patients already get. It may help doctors and families set expectations. It does not treat the cancer, and it does not change what care is offered.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a new treatment and it is not a cure. It is a way of guessing an outlook, nothing more. The study looked back at old records from one hospital. It was not a trial, so it cannot prove cause. More study is needed before this guides everyday care.
Source: PubMed, September 7, 2026 · Read the original
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