Bladder tumor staging: comparison of contrast-enhanced CT, T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging, dynamic gadolinium-enhanced imaging, and late gadolinium-enhanced imaging.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the accuracy of contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT), unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced spoiled gradient-echo MR imaging in the staging of bladder cancer.


METHODS
Thirty-six patients with histologically proved bladder cancer were prospectively examined with CT and MR imaging before tumor resection. Images were evaluated in a blinded fashion.


RESULTS
All methods depicted tumors comparably well. Staging was correct in 16 of 29 patients (55%) with CT and 27 of 36 patients (75%) overall with MR imaging. Overstaging was the most common error, and both CT and MR imaging were more accurate for higher-staged tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
CT and MR imaging perform well in the detection of tumors but are less accurate in staging. Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging is better than other techniques, but the difference is not statistically significant.
Kim
B
B
Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0628.
Semelka
R C
RC
Ascher
S M
SM
Chalpin
D B
DB
Carroll
P R
PR
Hricak
H
H
D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008536:Meglumine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D004369:Pentetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*
D003287:Contrast Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D008536:Meglumine; D004369:Pentetic Acid; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA