MR microcirculation assessment in cervical cancer: Correlations with histomorphological tumor markers and clinical outcome

This article reviews the experience available to date on microcirculation a ssessment in cancer of the cervix Including correlation studies of magnetic resonance (MR) microcirculatory parameters with histo-morphometric predict ors and direct correlation with patient outcome. The data suggest that MR m icrocirculation parameters do not always correlate with histo-morphometric parameters, while there is evidence that MR parameters predict patients' tr eatment outcome. These observations raise the issue that perhaps the histo- morphometric parameters, accepted gold standards for tumor angiogenesis and prognostic factors, reflect anatomical information at a "static" single ti me point and may not always provide sufficient information on the "dynamic" microcirculation function of the tumor, MR microcirculation assessment ref lects both anatomical and functional information and may provide this addit ional information on the "dynamic" angiogenic and metabolic status of a tum or. Therefore, assessment of tumor microcirculation may augment the individ ual risk profile in cervical cancer patients and has the potential to impac t on therapy selection and treatment outcome. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.