Pasquale Paolantonio MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Riccardo Ferrari MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Franco Lafrate MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, General Electric Company Research Consultant, E-Z-EM, Inc Research Consultant, Vital Images, Inc

Marco Rengo, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Paola Lucchesi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Andrea Laghi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, E-Z-EM, Inc Research Consultant, Vital Images, Inc Research Consultant, General Electric Company

to evaluate the diagnostic advantages of intravenous USPIO administration on T-staging of uterine carcinoma

17 female patients referred for gynecological carcinomas, 11 with corpus uterine cancer and six with cervical carcinoma underwent MR scan of the pelvis on a 1,5 T magnet. GRE T2*W sequences (TR/TE/FA/matrix/acq. time: 1800msec/15mesc/30°/230x512/13,51min) were acquired on multiple planes before and 24 hours after iv administration of 2,6 mg/kg of body weight of Sinerem (Guerbet, Paris, France). Image analysis were performed by consensus by two radiologists and it included qualitative and quantitative analysis of signal intensity (SI) of both normal myometrium and neoplastic lesions before and after Sinerem administration. S/N and C/N were calculated. Modification of T-staging in images obtained after Sinerem administration was also evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon test (p<0.05).

Qualitative analysis showed a significant decrease of SI of normal myometrium after Sinerem administration leading to a better lesion conspicuity. Quantitative analysis showed a statistically significant difference between SI of myometrium on plain and Sinerem-enhanced MR images assessed by means of t-test. C/N between lesion and normal myometrium significantly increased following Sinerem administration. In 13 patients Sinerem-enhanced images provided additional information leading to more accurate T staging.

Intravenous injection of Sinerem provides a significant decrease of SI of normal myometrium with higher C/N between neoplastic lesion and normal myometrium increasing the conspicuity of neoplastic lesions.

USPIO are superparamagnetic contrast agent developed for lymph nodes evaluation. We reported a novel application of USPIO useful in the evaluation of T-staging of uterine carcinoma.

Paolantonio, P, Ferrari, R, Lafrate, F, Rengo, M, Lucchesi, P, Laghi, A, Decrease of Signal Intensity of Myometrium after IV USPIO Administration: A Novel MR Finding.  Radiological Society of North America 2006 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 1, 2006 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2006/4438431.html