The radio surface brightness-to-diameter ( \Sigma - D ) relation for supernova remnants ( SNRs ) in the starburst galaxy M82 is analyzed in a statistically more robust manner than in the previous studies that mainly discussed sample quality and related selection effects .
The statistics of data fits in \log \Sigma - \log D plane are analyzed by using vertical ( standard ) and orthogonal regressions .
As the parameter values of D - \Sigma and \Sigma - D fits are invariant within the estimated uncertainties for orthogonal regressions , slopes of the empirical \Sigma - D relations should be determined by using the orthogonal regression fitting procedure .
Thus obtained \Sigma - D relations for samples which are not under severe influence of the selection effects could be used for estimating SNR distances .
Using the orthogonal regression fitting procedure \Sigma - D slope \beta \approx 3.9 is obtained for the sample of 31 SNRs in M82 .
The results of implemented Monte Carlo simulations show that the sensitivity selection effect does not significantly influence the slope of M82 relation .
This relation could be used for estimation of distances to SNRs that evolve in denser interstellar environment , with number denisty up to 1000 particles per cm ^ { 3 } .