Stage I Endometrial Carcinoma : Value of MR Imaging in Determining Depth of Myometriallnvasion

Purpose: In patients with endometrial carcinoma, preoperative knowledge of myometrial tumor extension has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. The purpose of this study was to assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in preoperative evaluation of myometrial invasion of early stage endometrial ca rci noma. Materials and Methods : MR imaging findings of 31 consecutive patients with histologically proved endometrial carcinoma, were prospectively analyzed and compared with pathologic results. Myometrial invasion was classified into three groups: absence of myometrial invasion, superficial and deep invasion in accordancewith clinical stage IA, IB, IC respectively. Results: MR imaging had an accuracy of 74.2%, a sensitivity of 85.7%, and a specificity of 70.8% in stage IA (n=기 : 67.7%, 46.2%, 83.3% in stage ’B (n=13) : 93. 5%, 81.8%, 100% in stage IC (n=11) respectively. Overall accuràcy was 79.9%. Nine of ten incorrect cases were underestimated, and one was overestimated. Degree of invasiveness was underestimated in cases with adenomyosis, small tumor showing focal wall thickening , and faint junctional zone in postmenopausal women. Conclusion : The results of this study show that MR imaging can be used to distinguish superficial and deep penetration of myometrium in endometrial carcinoma.