Prospective assessment of MRI for imaging retroperitoneal metastases from testicular germ cell tumours.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the detection of retroperitoneal lymph nodes in patients with testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT).


METHODS
A prospective study of 52 patients (mean age 34 years, range 18-54 years) was performed. Imaging of the retroperitoneum was performed using multidetector computed tomography (CT) and 1.5 T MRI systems. The CT and MRI images were read independently by three observers. The number, size, and site of enlarged nodes (> or =10 mm maximum short axis diameter) were recorded. Retroperitoneal nodal detection on MRI was compared to CT.


RESULTS
Twenty-two (42%) of the 52 patients had no retroperitoneal disease; in remaining 30 patients 51 enlarged nodes were identified. On a per patient basis readers 1, 2, and 3 identified nodal disease in 28 of 29, 29 of 30, and 24 of 30 patients, respectively, using MRI compared to CT. Thus for experienced radiologists (readers 1 and 2) MRI is comparable to CT for nodal detection (i.e., this study excludes MRI being inferior to CT with 80% power and 5% type 1 error).


CONCLUSIONS
MRI offers an alternative method for staging the retroperitoneum in young patients being followed for TGCT and has the major advantage of avoiding exposure to ionizing radiation.
Sohaib
S A
SA
Department of Radiology, Institute of Cancer Research & Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK. aslam.sohaib@rmh.nhs.uk
Koh
D M
DM
Barbachano
Y
Y
Parikh
J
J
Husband
J E S
JE
Dearnaley
D P
DP
Horwich
A
A
Huddart
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D055815:Young Adult