LYMPH-NODE STAGING IN CERVICAL-CARCINOMA - RESULTS OF HIGH-RESOLUTIONMRT WITH PHASED-ARRAY COIL

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic value of high resolution MR imagi ng with a circularly polarised (c.p.) body phased-array coil for the s taging of pelvic lymph nodes in cervical carcinoma. Material and metho ds: 42 patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the cervix wer e studied on a 1.5T scanner by using a c.p. body phased-array coil. Th e imaging protocol included T-2-weighted turbo-spin-echo (TSE) and T-1 -weighted spin-echo sequences pre and post IV application of Cd-DTPA; slice thickness was 5 - 7 mm and pixel size 0.53 mm(2). Lymph nodes wi th a diameter of greater than or equal to 8 mm were considered to have metastatic involvement. MR imaging results were compared with histopa thologic findings. Results: MR imaging showed enlarged lymph nodes (gr eater than or equal to 8 mm) in 16 of 18 patients with histologic proo f of lymph node metastases (sensitivity 89%). In 22 of 24 cases MR fin dings were true negative (specificity 92%). Diagnostic accuracy was 91 %. Conclusion: High-resolution MR imaging with a c.p. body phased-arra y coil provides high sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy for pelvic lymph node staging in cervical carcinoma.