Magnetic resonance imaging of cervical carcinoma using an endorectal surface coil

Introduction

The objective of this trial is to investigate the diagnostic value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with an endorectal surface coil for precise local staging of patients with histologically proven cervical cancer by comparing the radiological, clinical, and histological results.

Materials and methods

Women with cervical cancer were recruited for this trial between February 2007, and September 2010. All the patients were clinically staged according to the FIGO classification and underwent radiological staging by MRI that employed an endorectal surface coil. The staging results after surgery were compared to histopathology in all the operable patients.

Results

A total of 74 consecutive patients were included in the trial. Forty-four (59.5%) patients underwent primary surgery, whereas 30 (40.5%) patients were inoperable according to FIGO and underwent primary radiochemotherapy. The mean age of the patients was 50.6 years. In 11 out of the 44 patients concordant staging results were obtained by all three staging modalities. Thirty-two of the 44 patients were concordantly staged by FIGO and histopathological examination, while only 16 were concordantly staged by eMRI and histopathological examination. eMRI overstaged tumors in 14 cases and understaged them in 7 cases.

Conclusions

eMRI is applicable in patients with cervical cancer, yet of no benefit than staging with FIGO or standard pelvic MRI. The most precise preoperative staging procedure still appears to be the clinical examination.     

Zervixkarzinom

The treatment of uterine cervical carcinoma is largely dependent on the tumor stage. Despite significant inaccuracies in the clinical examination, uterine cervical cancer remains the only gynecological form of cancer still largely staged according to clinical findings. Although imaging is still not included in the staging the recently published revised FIGO (Fédération International de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique) system encourages the use of modern cross-sectional imaging (magnetic resonance imaging MRI and computed tomography CT). Due to its high soft tissue contrast MRI allows excellent non-invasive assessment of the cervix with direct tumor delineation as well as assessment of the prognosis based on morphological factors. Studies in the literature report an accuracy of 93% for MRI in the preoperative assessment of tumor size and in the differentiation of operable from advanced cervical cancer. Therefore MRI is considered to be the optimal modality for diagnostic evaluation starting from FIGO stage IB1, for radiation therapy planning, and for exclusion of recurrence in follow-up. In this paper we give an overview of the role of magnetic resonance imaging in preoperative staging of uterine cervical cancer.     

Primary staging of urinary bladder carcinoma: the role of MRI and a comparison with CT

Since the introduction, pelvic MRI has been considered the best non-invasive technique for primary staging of urinary bladder cancer. Before using MRI an understanding of normal and pathological MR images of the urinary bladder is essential. This review therefore describes the MR anatomy of the urinary bladder as well as the appearances of carcinoma. MRI plays an important clinical role in staging the primary tumour. In superficial tumours, clinical staging, which includes transurethral biopsy, is the best technique. For invasive tumours, MRI is superior to other techniques such as CT scanning, transvesical ultrasonography and clinical staging. A limitation of both MRI and CT scanning is their inability to recognize minimal tumour growth in the muscle layer of the bladder wall, or to differentiate between post-transurethral resection oedema and tumour. Therefore, in all patients with urinary bladder cancer staging should preferably start with MRI followed by clinical staging. Unfortunately, however, because of the high cost of this strategy, MRI has to be reserved for staging deeply invasive and superficial poorly differentiated tumours. Correspondence to: J. O. Barentsz     

Computed tomography in advanced carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Computed tomography (CT) and clinical examination including complete evaluation of the true pelvis were performed in 32 patients of whom 2 had possible advanced primary and 30 possible recurrent carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Confirmation of the staging by surgery or autopsy was obtained in 22 patients and by repeat clinical examinations and CT in 10 patients. The CT diagnosis was correct in 29 and the clinical pelvic examination in 25 patients. The results confirm previous reports that CT is a complementary method to pelvic examination in advanced cervical carcinoma.     

Computed tomography of gynecologic neoplasms.

Both CT and MR imaging have had a major impact on gynecologic oncologic imaging, and new technology and imaging techniques are still being introduced. CT maintains a role in gynecologic pelvic cancer imaging because of cost-effectiveness, high spatial resolution, fast examination time, and wide availability. CT is particularly advantageous for lymph node metastasis screening and guided-biopsy of metastases and recurrent tumor. CT currently is recommended for primary staging of ovarian cancer and advanced cancers of the cervix and endometrium, detection of persistent and metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease, and evaluation of recurrent gynecologic pelvic cancers.     

Staging of carcinoma of the uterine cervix and endometrium

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix and endometrium are common gynecologic malignancies. Both carcinomas are staged and managed by means of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system. In uterine cervical cancer, the FIGO staging system is determined preoperatively by limited conventional procedures. Although this system is effective for early stage disease, it has inherent inaccuracies in advanced stage diseases and does not address nodal involvement. CT and MR imaging are widely used as comprehensive imaging modalities to evaluate tumor size and extent, and nodal involvement. MR imaging is an excellent modality for depicting invasive cervical carcinoma and can provide objective measurement of tumor volume, and provides high negative predictive value for parametrial invasion and stage IVA disease. In contrast, endometrial cancer is surgically staged. Beside recognition of the important prognostic factors, including histologic subtype and grade, accurate assessment of the tumor extent on preoperative MR imaging is expected to greatly optimize surgical procedure and therapeutic strategy. Contrast-enhanced MR imaging can offer “one stop” examination for evaluating the depth of myometrial invasion cervical invasion and nodal metastases. Evaluation of myometrial invasion on MR imaging may be an alternative to gross inspection of the uterus during the surgery.     

Preoperative staging of pelvic lymph nodes in prostate cancer by 11C-choline PET.

Prostate cancer is known for its difficulties in preoperative staging of pelvic lymph nodes by conventional imaging techniques. Thus, a histopathologic examination of the pelvic lymphadenectomy specimen is mandatory for patients at risk for metastatic disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the strength and accuracy of (11)C-choline PET in preoperative noninvasive staging of pelvic lymph nodes in prostate cancer. METHODS: In a prospective study we examined 67 consecutive patients with histologically proven prostate cancer with (11)C-choline PET. The results of PET were compared with the results of histology of the pelvic lymph nodes and with the follow-up data. Conventional axial imaging was routinely performed using MRI or CT. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of (11)C-choline PET were calculated. RESULTS: Fifteen patients had histologically proven lymph node metastases. (11)C-Choline PET was true-positive in 12 of 15 patients and false-negative in 3 patients. Fifty-two patients had no lymph node metastases. (11)C-Choline PET was true-negative in 50 of 52 patients and false-positive in 2 patients. We calculated a sensitivity of (11)C-choline PET for staging metastatic lymph node disease of 80%, a specificity of 96%, and an accuracy of 93%. Next, (11)C-choline PET detected solitary extraregional lymph node metastases in 5 of 12 patients with nodal metastases. CONCLUSION: This study showed that (11)C-choline PET is sensitive and accurate in preoperative staging of pelvic lymph nodes in prostate cancer.     

Preoperative locoregional staging of rectal carcinoma: comparison of MR, TRUS and Multislice CT. Personal experience

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the sensitivity and clinical indications of Magnetic Resonance (MR) as compared to Transrectal Ultrasonography (TRUS) and spiral Computed Tomography (CT) in the preoperative staging and evaluation of rectal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with histologically proven rectal carcinoma were examined with phased-array coil MRI. We used T1 and T2, spin-echo, turbo-spin-echo, flash2D sequences with and without fat suppression; FOV 180-280; 4-6 mm slice thickness; i.v. Gadolinium. The MR images were compared with TRUS, spiral CT and with the final histological diagnosis. RESULTS: MR showed a 92.3% sensitivity for rectal wall infiltration vs. 100% of TRUS and 75% of CT. The sensitivity for lymph node metastases was 76.4% vs. 72.2% for TRUS and 88% for CT. CONCLUSIONS: Locoregional staging of rectal cancer by MRI shows a high sensitivity and is also feasible in stenosing or proximal rectal lesions. TRUS, despite its limitations, is still the most sensitive method for the evaluation of wall infiltration. CT was less sensitive than the other two METHODS: The sensitivity of MR and CT for lymph node metastases is comparable, but the former is more specific.     

Invasive carcinoma of the cervix uteri (stage IB-IIB): evaluation using magnetic resonance

In patients with cervical carcinoma the selection of the optimal therapy depends on the precise preoperative assessment of the extent of disease. Currently, decisions regarding the management of these patients are made on the basis of clinical (FIGO) staging that has 50% mean error rate. To investigate the value of MR imaging in staging patients with invasive cervical cancer, we performed 25 MR examinations on 23 patients with histologic diagnosis of cervical cancer. All patients were clinically considered as having stage IB or IIB disease and underwent radical hysterectomy, providing specimens for pathologic correlation. The overall accuracy of MR imaging in staging cervical carcinoma (stage IB-IIB) was 78.1%. MR imaging seems to be the most reliable preoperative modality for staging invasive cervical cancer.     

3.0T MR高分辨率成像对直肠癌局部浸润的术前影像学评价

目的 探讨3.0T MR高分辨率成像在直肠癌术前局部浸润的评估价值.方法 回顾性分析经手术病理证实的直肠癌患者168例,术前均行MRI常规盆腔、直肠高分辨成像.评价3.0T MR高分辨成像术前T分期的准确性;探讨T3期直肠癌局部浸润特征性影像学表现.结果 直肠癌累及肠周径程度与病理T分期呈中等正相关(rs=0.530, P=0.003).MRI直肠癌T分期与病理T分期比较,总体诊断准确度为84.52%,各分期MRI征象与病理T分期有较强的相关性(rs=0.837,P=0.001).MRI诊断T3期直肠癌中,各单一征象以肿瘤结节样外凸特异性最高(91.1%),肌层信号中断灵敏度最好(89.7%).而各叠加征象中则以肠壁索条影+肌层信号中断特异性最高(89.3%),灵敏度最好(78.0%).结论 3.0T MR高分辨成像能较好显示直肠癌局部浸润表现,对术前T分期有一定的临床应用价值.     

薄层CT增强扫描对膀胱癌术前分期的临床价值

目的通过对比膀胱癌薄层螺旋CT与病理诊断结果,评价薄层CT增强扫描对膀胱癌术前分期的临床价值。方法应用美国GE公司ProSpeedⅡ螺旋CT机,对58例膀胱癌患者进行盆腔平行扫瞄、动脉期静扫、静脉期增强薄层扫描。比较薄层螺旋CT分期与病理分期的准确度、敏感度和特异度。结果 58例患者螺旋临床CT分期:T1期9例,T2a期19例,T2b期14例,T3期8例,T4期8例,病理分期:pT1期12例,pT2a期17例,pTb期212例,T3期11例,pT4期6例。CT扫描准确度、敏感度及特异度均有明显优势。结论薄层CT增强扫描用于膀胱癌术前诊断分期,对临床制定治疗方案和预后评估有重要价值。     

宫颈癌MR分期与临床分期及病理对照研究

目的分析宫颈癌MR影像表现，评价MR在宫颈癌分期中的价值。资料与方法60例均在治疗前行盆腔的轴位SE T1WI，轴位及矢状位快速自旋回波（TSE）T2WI。在MRI上观察肿瘤的位置、大小、信号特征、浸润范围及累及宫旁的情况，并将MR所见进行影像学分期，同时与临床及病理分期进行对比分析。结果MR在判断宫颈癌发生部位的准确性为100％，判断宫旁浸润的准确性为92．31％，判断宫颈癌分期总的准确性为96．67％，对宫旁浸润的特异性和敏感性分别为97．87％和92．31％。结论MR能多方位高分辨率显示宫颈癌病灶的位置、大小及向宫旁浸润的程度，对宫颈癌的分期具有极高的价值。临床检查结合MRI可较为准确地评价宫颈癌的分期，使其更接近于病理分期，从而对宫颈癌的治疗起到指导性的作用。     

Bildgebende Diagnostik im Staging gynäkologischer Karzinome

The prognosis in patients with gynecologic cancers depends not only on the stage but also on a wide spectrum of other findings. Cross-sectional imaging modalities, including sonography, CT and MRI, have increasingly been used for optimal treatment planning in gynecologic cancers. Their staging criteria are based on the well-established FIGO staging system. CT and MRI compete with sonography, which plays a pivotal role in the evaluation of the female pelvis. This paper reviews the role of sonography, CT and MRI in the staging of gynecologic malignancies. It puts the emphasis on MRI, which has been established as imaging modality of choice in the preoperative evaluation of cervical and endometrial cancer, and which seems slightly superior to CT in the staging of ovarian cancer.     

Preoperative staging of renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava thrombus using multidetector CT and MRI: prospective study with histopathological correlation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of multidetector computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in staging and estimating renal carcinomas with caval thrombus. METHODS: Initially, 23 patients with suspected caval thrombi were admitted into this prospective study. Triphasic CT imaging was performed using a multidetector CT with a reconstructed slice thickness of 2 mm. 3D CT reconstructions were used to improve surgical planning. MRI protocol included: a transversal T1-weighted GE sequence with and without Gd-DTPA, a transversal T2-weighted respiratory-gated TSE, and a coronal T1-weighted GE sequence with Gd-DTPA and fat saturation. In addition, a multiphase 3D angiography was performed after Gd-DTPA injection. Patients were divided into 3 groups: caval thrombus below the insertion of the hepatic veins, within the intrahepatic vena cava, and intra-atrial extension. The results the tumor thrombus extension and staging results of 2 independent readers were correlated with surgical and histopathological staging. RESULTS: Of the 23 patients admitted, CT and MR scans of 14/13 patients respectively were correlated with histopathological workup. CT thrombus detection sensitivity and specificity for both readers was 0.93 and 0.8 respectively. MRI sensitivity and specificity for both readers was 1.0/0.85 and 0.75.Readers I and II evaluated the uppermost extension of the cranial tumor thrombus by both CT and MRI. CT and MR accuracy was 78% and 72%, 88% and 76% respectively. CONCLUSION: In cases of a suspected tumor thrombus, MRI and multidetector CT imaging showed similar staging results. Consequently, these staging modalities can be used to assess the extension of the tumor thrombus.     

Stage I and II cervical carcinoma. Study with magnetic resonance and transrectal echography

Twenty-five patients with histologically-proven cervical carcinoma (clinical stages I and II according to FIGO classification system) were studied by means of transrectal US (TRUS) and MR imaging (MRI) at 1.5 T, to evaluate the primary tumor and measure its size. Stage Ib cancers were divided into small 4 (less than 4 cm) and large (greater than 4 cm). The patients with large Ib and those with stage II lesions were administered preoperative radiation therapy. All the patients underwent TRUS, MRI, and clinical examination under sedation; they were subsequently operated. Stage Ia and small Ib patients underwent therapeutic surgery, while large Ib and stage II cases had surgical exploration for pathologic staging. The tumor was correctly identified and measured in 22 patients with MRI, and in 20 cases with TRUS. Tumoral involvement of parametria and uterine ligaments was demonstrated in 75% of cases by MRI and in 62.5% of patients by TRUS. Vaginal involvement was demonstrated by MRI in 77.8% of cases and by TRUS in 66.6% of patients. Tumor size could be evaluated more accurately than with clinical examination under sedation, while the results were poorer in the demonstration of tumor spread into uterus and parametria.     

Uterus Necrosis after Radiochemotherapy in Two Patients with Advanced Cervical Cancer

BACKGROUND: Simultaneous platinum-based radiochemotherapy is the standard of care for patients with advanced or node-positive cancer of the uterine cervix. A large body of literature concerning therapy-related acute and late morbidity is available. Chemoradiation-associated necrosis of the uterus has not been described so far. CASE REPORT: Two patients are reported who were treated by combined chemoradiation between 2004 and 2005 for histologically confirmed cervical cancer following laparoscopic staging. Both patients were diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the cervix FIGO stage IIB (T2b pN1 pM1 LYM G2) and FIGO IIIA (T3a pN1 M0 G2), respectively. External-beam radiotherapy was applied in a 3-D-planned four-field technique, covering pelvic lymph nodes and primary tumor. Patient #1 received additional paraaortic irradiation. Patient #2 underwent 5 x 5 Gy brachytherapy covering the tumor. Simultaneously, cisplatin was given to both patients. Following chemoradiation, both patients developed pelvic pain and an elevation of C-reactive protein (CRP) in the presence of a normal leukocyte count. Both patients underwent relaparoscopy, and necrosis of the uterus combined with partial necrosis of the bladder was diagnosed in patient #1. Patient #1 underwent total supralevatoric exenteration and patient #2 laparoscopically assisted hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. CONCLUSION: In patients with persisting or incident pelvic pain, questionable findings in imaging techniques and/or elevated inflammation parameters following completion of chemoradiation for cervical cancer, differential diagnosis should include radiogenic necrosis of the uterus and other pelvic organs. Laparoscopy is an ideal technique to exclude or confirm this diagnosis.     

MRI in staging advanced gastric cancer: is it useful compared with spiral CT?

PURPOSE: During the last decade, rapid progress has been made in MR technology. Our objective was to evaluate the role of MRI in staging advanced gastric cancer (AGC; gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria) and to compare it with that of spiral CT. METHOD: We prospectively performed both MR and CT examinations on 26 patients with AGC proven by endoscopic biopsy. Contrast-enhanced CT and nonenhanced MRI with a 1.0 T scanner using FLASH, HASTE, and true-FISP sequences were obtained in each patient after injection of antiperistaltic drug and ingestion of 1 L of tap water. Fifty-two sets of CT and MR images were analyzed by two radiologists in consensus without any information from other images. T and N staging of AGC was determined according to the TNM classification. All patients underwent surgery within 1 week after both examinations. Diagnostic accuracy of each staging of AGC on CT or MRI was evaluated by comparison with the pathologic results. RESULTS: MRI was slightly superior to CT in T staging (81 vs. 73%, respectively; p < 0.05). Although MRI had a tendency to overstage the pathologic T2 cancer, positive predictability of T2 stage and sensitivity of T3 stage were high (100%, respectively). Regarding the N staging, CT was slightly superior to MRI (73 vs. 65%; p > 0.05). However, both CT and MRI demonstrated the tendency of understaging in N staging. CONCLUSION: Although MRI was superior to spiral CT in T staging, MRI cannot completely replace spiral CT in staging AGC because of its limitation in N staging.     

Value of fusion of PET and MRI for staging of endometrial cancer: Comparison with F-FDG contrast-enhanced PET/CT and dynamic contrast-enhanced pelvic MRI

Purpose

To investigate the diagnostic value of retrospective fusion of pelvic MRI and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) PET images for assessment of locoregional extension and nodal staging of endometrial cancer.

Materials and methods

Thirty patients with biopsy-proven endometrial cancer underwent preoperative contrast-enhanced PET/CT (PET/ceCT) and pelvic dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for initial staging. Diagnostic performance of PET/ceCT, contrast-enhanced MRI, and retrospective image fusion from PET and MRI (fused PET/MRI) for assessing the extent of the primary tumor (T stage) and metastasis to regional LNs (N stage) was evaluated by two experienced readers. Histopathological and follow-up imaging results were used as the gold standard. The McNemar test was employed for statistical analysis.

Results

Fused PET/MRI and MRI detected 96.7% of the primary tumors, whereas PET/ceCT detected 93.3%. Accuracy for T status was 80.0% for fused PET/MRI, and MRI proved significantly more accurate than PET/ceCT, which had an accuracy of 60.0% (p = 0.041). Patient-based sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for detecting pelvic nodal metastasis were 100%, 96.3% and 96.7% for both fused PET/MRI and PET/ceCT, and 66.7%, 100% and 96.7% for MRI, respectively. These three parameters were not statistically significant (p = 1).

Conclusion

Fused PET/MRI, which complements the individual advantages of MRI and PET, is a valuable technique for assessment of the primary tumor and nodal staging in patients with endometrial cancer.     

Invasive cervical carcinoma: comparison of MR imaging and surgical findings

The accuracy of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in staging invasive carcinoma of the cervix was determined retrospectively in 57 consecutive patients in whom the extent of disease was surgically confirmed. MR images were analyzed for (a) location and size of the primary tumor; (b) tumor extension to the uterine corpus, vagina, parametria, pelvic sidewall, bladder, or rectum; and (c) pelvic lymphadenopathy. The accuracy of MR imaging in determination of tumor location was 91% and for determination of tumor size within 0.5 cm, 70%. Its accuracy was 93% for vaginal extension and 88% for parametrial extension. Pelvic sidewall, bladder, and rectal involvement were accurately excluded in all patients, but the positive predictive values were 75%, 67%, and 100%, respectively. Overall, the accuracy of MR imaging in staging was 81%. MR imaging is valuable because it can accurately demonstrate tumor location, tumor size, degree of stromal penetration, and lower uterine segment involvement. It is also valuable for ruling out parametrial, pelvic sidewall, bladder, and rectal involvement.     

Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and endosonography in the local staging of carcinoma of the cervix

Thirty-seven patients with carcinoma of the cervix were prospectively staged by examination under anaesthesia (EUA), transvaginal and transrectal ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Pathological correlation was available for 20 patients. In the pathologically staged patients, EUA agreed with the staging in 17, understaging three patients. Endosonography agreed with the staging in 19, CT in 16 and MRI in 18 patients. For the remaining 17 patients, endosonography agreed with the EUA findings in 13, CT in 12 and MRI in 12. This study has shown that endosonography and MRI are more accurate than CT in the local staging of carcinoma of the cervix. Computed tomography was least accurate in staging early tumours and differentiating between Stage Ib and IIb disease. Lymph node involvement was detected with equal frequency by both CT and MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging was useful in identifying vaginal and bladder wall involvement and in one patient showed features due to an unsuspected early pregnancy.