Staging of uterine endometrial carcinoma with ultra-low field (0.02 T) MRI: a comparative study with CT

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the capability of ultra-low field MRI for staging endometrial carcinoma.

Computed tomography and MRI were performed on 47 patients with uterine endometrial carcinoma. The results were compared with those from clinical examination and with histopathological results after operation in 43 cases. The local extension of the endometrial carcinoma was correctly staged in 77% with clinical examination in 58% with CT, and in 88% with MRI.

Tumor growth was overestimated by clinical examination in 21%, by CT in 35%, and by MRI in only 5%. Magnetic resonance imaging was most accurate in detecting cervical extension and was better than CT in detecting tumor invasion to the outer half of the myometrium. The sensitivities of CT and MRI in the assessment of deep myometrial invasion were 67 and 83%, respectively, the corresponding specificities being 67 and 79%. Magnetic resonance imaging at 0.02 T was not able to differentiate tumors with superficial myometrial invasion from those confined entirely to the endometrium. The detection of metastatic lymphadenopathy was difficult with all examination methods.

Our results indicate that MRI at 0.02 T is a convenient, inexpensive, and accurate imaging method for the preoperative staging of endometrial carcinoma.