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Interest of diffusion‐weighted echo‐planar MR imaging and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping in gynecological malignancies: A review
Author(s) -
Levy Antonin,
Medjhoul Aïcha,
Caramella Caroline,
Zareski Elise,
Berges Oscar,
Chargari Cyrus,
Boulet Bérénice,
Bidault François,
Dromain Clarisse,
Balleyguier Corinne
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of magnetic resonance imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1522-2586
pISSN - 1053-1807
DOI - 10.1002/jmri.22546
Subject(s) - medicine , effective diffusion coefficient , magnetic resonance imaging , diffusion mri , radiology , lymph node , radiation therapy , pathology
Abstract Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains the standard modality for the local staging of gynecological malignancies but it has several limitations, particularly for lymph node staging or evaluating peritoneal carcinomatosis. Consequently, there has been a growing interest in functional imaging modalities. Based on molecular diffusion, diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) is a unique, noninvasive modality that provides excellent tissue contrast and was shown to improve the radiological diagnosis of malignant tumors. Using quantitative apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement of DWI provides a new tool for better distinguishing malignant tissues from benign tumors. The aim of the present review is to report on the results of DWI for the assessment of patients with gynecological malignancies. An analysis of the literature suggests that DWI studies would improve the diagnosis of cervical and endometrial tumors. It may also improve the assessment of tumor extension in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gynecological malignancies. However, since the signal intensity of some cancers can range from high intensity to low intensity, a degree of uncertainty was demonstrated due to the proximity of the normal uterine myometrium and ovaries. Interestingly, there is also evidence that ADC might improve the follow‐up and monitoring of patients who receive anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy or radiation therapy. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;33:1020–1027. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.