Endometrial carcinoma: merit of magnetic resonance in pre-surgical staging

To evaluate MR capacity in assessing deep myometrial and cervical infiltrations in cases of endometrial carcinoma. A series of 30 consecutively diagnosed endometrial cancer patients was pre-surgically evaluated by means of magnetic resonance (MR). TSE-T2 sequences with fat saturation and dynamic FFe sequence were used after gadolinium administration. A correlation with post-surgical histological stating was made. There were then determined sensitivity (S), specificity (SP), positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for the deep myometrial infiltration and cervical invasion. Cases of overestimation and underestimation were analyzed. Values obtained for myometrium and cervix were, respectively, S of 67% and 63%, SP of 89% and 91%, PPV of 80% and 71% and NPV of 80% and 87%. Two cases each were over valued for myometrial infiltration and cervix: four cases and 3 cases, respectively, were undervalues. MR stating in cases of endometrial carcinoma is a highly reliable diagnostic technique, but it does present certain limitations. (Author) 19 refs