[Value of high-field MR diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the usefulness of high-field MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma.


METHODS
Thirty-five female patients with pathologically proven endometrial carcinoma, 10 patients with pathologically proven endometrial dysplasia and 41 normal volunteers were enrolled into this study. MR images were obtained at a 3.0 T MR scanner (GE, SIGNA EXCITE HD 3.0T) and an 8-element phased-array torsopa coil was used to receive MR signal. The conventional pulse sequences included axial SE T1WI, FSE T2WI and fat saturated FSE T2WI, sagittal FSE T2WI, and coronal fat saturated FSE T2WI. Axial DWI was performed in all patients using a SE-EPI sequence with a 1000 s/mm(2) b value. The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC) of carcinoma, dysplasia and normal mucosa were measured among the patients.


RESULTS
Compared with myometrium, all the endometrial carcinoma, dysplasia and normal endometrium had a markedly high signal intensity on DWI. The ADC of endometrial carcinoma, dysplasia and normal endometrium was (1.08 +/- 0.23) x 10(-3)mm(2)/s, (1.29 +/- 0.21) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s and (1.41 +/- 0.21) x 10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the carcinoma and normal endometrium (t = -6.416, P = 0.000), and between the carcinoma and dysplasia (t = -2.590, P = 0.013). However, no significant difference in ADC was found between highly-differentiated and moderately-differentiated adenocarcinomas.


CONCLUSIONS
High-field MR diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is highly sensitive in detecting endometrial lesions. It can be used to differentiate the endometrial carcinoma from either dysplasia or normal endometrium, but is difficult to differentiate highly-differentiated adenocarcinoma from moderately-differentiated one.
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Cancer Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300060, China.
Li-xia
LX
Wang
Chun-wu
CW
Zhou
Han
H
Ouyang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D018284:Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D004476:Ectodermal Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D004717:Endometrium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium