Use of multiparametric MRI to characterize uterine fibroid tissue types

Although the biological characteristics of uterine fibroids (UF) have implications for therapy choice and effectiveness, there is limited MRI data about these characteristics. Currently, the Funaki classification and Scaled Signal Intensity (SSI) are used to predict treatment outcome but both screening-tools appear to be suboptimal. Therefore, multiparametric and quantitative MRI was studied to evaluate various biological characteristics of UF.

87 patients with UF underwent an MRI-examination. Differences between UF tissues and myometrium were investigated using T2-mapping, Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) maps with different b-value combinations, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted and T2-weighted imaging. Additionally, the Funaki classification and SSI were calculated.

Significant differences between myometrium and UF tissue in T2-mapping (p = 0.001), long-TE ADC low b-values (p = 0.002), ADC all b-values (p < 0.001) and high b-values (p < 0.001) were found. Significant differences between Funaki type 3 versus type 1 and 2 were observed in SSI (p < 0.001) and T2-values (p < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between SSI and T2-mapping (p < 0.001; ρ_s = 0.82), ADC all b-values (p = 0.004; ρ_s = 0.31), ADC high b-values (p < 0.001; ρ_s = 0.44) and long-TE ADC low b-values (p = 0.004; ρ_s = 0.31).

Quantitative MR-data allowed us to distinguish UF tissue from myometrium and to discriminate different UF tissue types and may, therefore, be a useful tool to predict treatment outcome/determine optimal treatment modality.