Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy of contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT), unenhanced T1- and T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and dynamic gadolinium-enhanced spoiled gradient-echo MR imaging in the staging of bladder cancer.
Materials and methods: Thirty-six patients with histologically proved bladder cancer were prospectively examined with CT and MR imaging before tumor resection. Images were evaluated in a blinded fashion.
Results: All methods depicted tumors comparably well. Staging was correct in 16 of 29 patients (55%) with CT and 27 of 36 patients (75%) overall with MR imaging. Overstaging was the most common error, and both CT and MR imaging were more accurate for higher-staged tumors.
Conclusion: CT and MR imaging perform well in the detection of tumors but are less accurate in staging. Dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MR imaging is better than other techniques, but the difference is not statistically significant.