OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of MR imaging in the assessment of invasion depth by endometrial carcinoma.

METHODSData of 122 patients with endometrial carcinoma proved by postoperative pathology were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperatively, all patients underwent conventional and contrast-enhanced MR scan. Compared with the results of pathology, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of different invasion depth determined by MRI were analyzed with SPSS software based on whether the junctional zone was involved or not as the criterion of myometrial invasion.

RESULTS(1) Based on MRI image, the tumor was confined to the endometrium in 17 patients, causing superficial myometrial invasion 60, deep-myometrial invasion 40 and having penetrated the serosa 5. Compared with postoperative pathology results, the incidence of sensitivity, specficity and accuracy of MRI assessment for tumor confined to endometrium was 64.7%, 94.3%, 90.2%, respectively; to superficial myometrial invasion: 64.6%, 82.5%, 70.5%, respectively; to deep-myometrial invasion: 94.4%, 77.9%, 80.3%, respectively; to tumor having penetrated the serosa: 80.0%, 99.1%, 98.4%, respectively. (2) Based on intact junctional zone as the criterion of tumor confined to endometrium, the sensitivity, specficity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value was 92.9%, 67.9%, 73.1%, 43.3%, 97.3%, respectively. Based on the interruption of junctional zone as the criterion of tumor having involved the myometrium, the sensitivity, specficity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value was 67.9%, 92.9%, 73.1%, 97.3%, 43.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONMRI is valuable in the assessment of the invasion depth by endometrial carcinoma, and the dose plays an important role for the clinician in selecting proper way of therapy.