Negative MRI findings with invasive cervical biopsy may indicate stage IA cervical carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
We attempted to prospectively determine the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in very early cervical cancer.


METHODS
T2-weighted and T1-dynamic enhanced images from patients with invasive or noninvasive lesions of the cervix were reviewed by two radiologists who had no clinical information on these patients. At least 12 longitudinal sections prepared from the surgically removed cervix were reviewed by a pathologist. The correlation between MRI and histological findings was analyzed in terms of depth of invasion.


RESULTS
Seventy-nine cases were entered into the study and 75 were evaluable. Accuracy of T2 MR images for invasive and noninvasive disease by Radiologist 1 and Radiologist 2 was 0.8533 and 0.7733, respectively. Accuracy was greater (0.9867 and 0.9467, respectively) for the detection of noninvasive plus microinvasive lesions </=5 mm vs invasive lesions >5 mm. Dynamic technique provided only limited additional value in the detection of microinvasive cervical carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Simple T2 MRI is useful in differentiating noninvasive or microinvasive cervical lesions from invasive cervical carcinoma of the cervix >5 mm.
Fujiwara
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Radiology, Department of Pathology, Kawasaki Medical School, 577 Matsushima, Kurashiki City, 701-0192, Japan.
Yoden
E
E
Asakawa
T
T
Shimizu
M
M
Hirokawa
M
M
Mikami
Y
Y
Oda
T
T
Joja
I
I
Imajo
Y
Y
Kohno
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019092:Conization; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000473:pathology