Application of FLASH-3D dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging for diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma

Br J Radiol. 2016 Oct;89(1066):20160268. doi: 10.1259/bjr.20160268. Epub 2016 Jul 26.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the application and value of fast low-angle shot three-dimensional (FLASH-3D) dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for the pre-operative staging of endometrial carcinoma.

Methods: This prospective study enrolled 48 patients with complete clinical data and pathologically confirmed endometrial carcinoma from July 2012 to March 2014. After routine MRI examination, subjects underwent FLASH-3D dynamic contrast-enhanced examination. The dynamically enhanced features of the uterine wall and tumours were analyzed. FLASH-3D pre-operative staging and findings in relation to myometrial invasion were compared with post-operative pathological results in a double-blind manner.

Results: There were 48 cases of pathologically proven endometrial carcinoma, including 34 patients with Stage I (Stage Ia 22 cases and Stage Ib 12 cases), 9 with Stage II, 3 with Stage III and 2 with Stage IV. The staging accuracy for endometrial carcinoma was 81% (39/48) using FLASH-3D dynamic contrast-enhanced sequences. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the determination of deep myometrial invasion were 84%, 90% and 88%, respectively. There was no significant difference compared with the results of post-operative pathology (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: FLASH-3D dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging may be valuable for the early diagnosis and pre-operative staging of endometrial carcinoma. Its high accuracy for assessing deep myometrial invasion makes FLASH-3D imaging an important tool for selecting the optimal therapeutic protocol and for prognosis estimation.

Advances in knowledge: FLASH-3D can significantly improve the accurate assessment of the depth of tumour invasion into the myometrium and may thus help to guide clinical surgical choices and post-operative evaluation. FLASH-3D is thus a promising technique for the routine examination of female pelvic tumours.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Contrast Media
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / diagnostic imaging
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness / pathology
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Contrast Media