MRI for staging of gastric carcinoma: first results of an experimental prospective study

Our goal was to define the accuracy of MRI in the staging of gastric carcinomas.

Twenty consecutive surgical specimens were imaged immediately after gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. Imaging was performed with a 1.0 T imaging system. T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and opposed phase images were acquired and analyzed for tumor infiltration of the gastric wall and the presence of perigastric lymph nodes. T and N stages were classified according to the International Union Against Cancer classification. Finally histopathologic staging of the specimens was compared with staging by MRI.

In gastric specimens, three to five layers of the gastric walls were visible. There were typical signal intensity patterns on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and opposed phase images. Tumor diagnosis and lymph node detection were best achieved by opposed phase imaging. Nineteen of 20 (95%) carcinomas were localized by MRI; T staging accuracy was 65%. The sensitivity to detect metastatic lymph nodes was 87%, specificity 60%. N staging accuracy (nodes positive versus negative) was 80%.

High resolution MRI of gastric tumors is possible ex vivo. MRI enabled differentiation of up to five layers of the gastric wall, and therefore staging of gastric carcinomas is technically possible. However, to evaluate the exact role of MRI as a staging tool of gastric carcinomas, a correlation between MR morphology and the histologic structure of the gastric wall has to be achieved first.