Relationship between imaging biomarkers of stage I cervical cancer and poor-prognosis histologic features: quantitative histogram analysis of diffusion-weighted MR images.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine whether histogram analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values from diffusion-weighted MRI can be used to differentiate cervical tumors according to their histologic characteristics.


METHODS
Sixty patients with International Federation of Gynecology stage I cervical cancer underwent MRI at 1.5 T with a 37-mm-diameter endovaginal coil. T2-weighted images (TR/TE, 2000-2368/90) followed by diffusion-weighted images (TR/TE, 2500/69; b values, 0, 100, 300, 500, and 800 s/mm(2)) were acquired. An expert observer drew regions of interest around a histologically confirmed tumor on ADC maps by referring to the T2-weighted images. Pixel-by-pixel ADCs were calculated with a monoexponential fit of data from b values of 100-800 s/mm(2), and ADC histograms were obtained from the entire tumor volume. An independent samples Student t test was used to compare differences in ADC percentile values, skew, and kurtosis between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, well or moderately differentiated and poorly differentiated tumors, and absence and presence of lymphovascular space invasion.


RESULTS
There was no statistically significant difference in ADC percentiles between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, but the median was significantly higher in well or moderately differentiated tumors (50th percentile, 1113 ± 177 × 10(-6) mm(2)/s) compared with poorly differentiated tumors (50th percentile, 996 ± 184 × 10(-6) mm(2)/s) (p = 0.049). Histogram skew was significantly less positive for adenocarcinoma compared with squamous cell carcinoma (p = 0.016) but did not differ between tumor grades. There was no significant difference between any parameter with regard to lymphovascular space invasion.


CONCLUSIONS
Median ADC is lower in poorly compared with well or moderately differentiated tumors, while lower histogram-positive skew in adenocarcinoma compared with squamous cell carcinoma is likely to reflect the glandular content of adenocarcinoma.
CRUK/EPSRC Cancer Imaging Centre, MRI Unit, Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Marsden Hospital, Downs Rd, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK. kate.downey@icr.ac.uk
Kate
K
Downey
Sophie F
SF
Riches
Veronica A
VA
Morgan
Sharon L
SL
Giles
Ayoma D
AD
Attygalle
Tom E
TE
Ind
Desmond P J
DP
Barton
John H
JH
Shepherd
Nandita M
NM
deSouza
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016477:Artifacts; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor