Preoperative Evaluation of Myometrial Invasion in Endometrial Carcinoma: Prospective Intra-individual Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Volumetry, Diffusion-weighted and Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCE) and volumetric analyses in the preoperative assessment of myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

Materials and methods: Thirty-five patients with endometrial cancer underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging including DWI and DCE for evaluation of the depth of myometrial invasion and volumetric analyses [tumor volume (TV), uterine volume (UV), tumor to volume ratio (TVR=(TV/TU)×100)]. The results of the evaluations were compared to the histopathological examinations.

Results: DWI and DCE showed a sensitivity and specificity in evaluating the depth of myometrial invasion of 92% and 96% and 92% and 86%, respectively, while volumetric analyses showed a sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 86% (TVR cut-off=10%) and 69% and 100% (TVR cut-off=25%), respectively.

Conclusion: DWI and DCE are both good diagnostic tools for the preoperative assessment of myometrial invasion. From our results and literature research, there is potential for omitting gadolinium-based contrast agents given the high diagnostic value of DWI. In our patient collective, the predictive power of volumetric analyses was lower than that of DWI.

Keywords: MR volumetry; Myometrial invasion; contrast-enhanced MRI; diffusion-weighted MRI; endometrial carcinoma; magnetic resonance imaging; preoperative staging.