CT and MR imaging in staging bladder neoplasms

Thirteen patients with bladder carcinoma were examined by magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and CT to determine the relative accuracy of the modalities in staging bladder carcinoma. Magnetic resonance correctly identified the presence or absence of extravesical spread of carcinoma in 10 of 13 patients (77%). Two patients were understaged and one was overstaged. Computed tomography correctly staged nine of 13 patients (69%), with three patients understaged and one patient overstaged. Neither MR nor CT was able to determine depth of invasion of the bladder wall in the absence of extravesical spread.