Magnetic resonance imaging to identify risk of lymph node metastasis in patients with endometrial cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify endometrial cancer patients at risk of lymph node metastasis.


METHODS
Retrospective review of data from 108 patients with clinical stage I endometrial cancer who underwent preoperative MRI and were treated surgically. Patients at risk of lymph node metastasis were defined as those who had more than 50% myometrial infiltration or cervical invasion. Preoperative MRI reports were compared with final pathologic results.


RESULTS
The mean age of the patients was 69.5 years and most patients had endometrioid cancer. On final pathologic analysis, 59 patients had deep myometrial infiltration or cervical invasion. For diagnosis of deep myometrial infiltration, cervical invasion, or both, MRI sensitivity and specificity were 56% and 85%; 47% and 83%; and 67% and 77%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI has limited value in identifying patients with endometrial cancer who are at risk of lymph node metastasis. Minimally invasive laparoscopic lymph node staging should be undertaken when it is feasible.
Undurraga
Manuela
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. manuela.undurraga@hcuge.ch
Petignat
Patrick
P
Pelte
Marie-Françoise
MF
Jacob
Sandrine
S
Dubuisson
Jean-Bernard
JB
Loubeyre
Pierre
P
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity