Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) imaging in detecting parametrial invasion (PMI) in cervical stromal ring focally disrupted stage IB-IIA cervical cancers.
Methods: Eighty-one patients with cervical stromal ring focally disrupted stage IB-IIA cervical cancers (PMI positive, n = 35; PMI negative, n = 46) who underwent preoperative MRI and radical hysterectomy were included in this study. Preoperative clinical variables and MRI variables were analyzed and compared.
Results: The Ktrans (min, mean, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%), Kep (min, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%), and Ve (min, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90%) values of patients with PMI were significantly higher than patients without PMI. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value did not show statistical difference between the two groups (1.01 ± 0.21 vs. 0.97 ± 0.20 10-3 mm2/s, p = 0.360). Tumor craniocaudal planes were higher in PMI-positive group than PMI-negative group (35.84 ± 15.39 vs. 29.70 ± 11.78 mm, p = 0.048). Tumor craniocaudal planes combined with Kepmin value showed the highest area under the curve (AUCs) of 0.775, with a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 71.1% (p = 0.000).
Conclusions: DCE parameters combined tumor craniocaudal planes may represent a prognostic indicator for PMI in cervical stromal ring focally disrupted IB-IIA cervical cancers.
Keywords: Cervical cancer; Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging; Dynamic contrast enhancement; Magnetic resonance imaging.