Gilda Rechichi MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Stefania Galimberti, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Anna Chiara Cadonici MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Cammillo Roberto Giovanni Leopoldo Talei Franzesi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Patrizia Perego, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sandro Sironi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To investigate a) whether ADC values of endometrial cancer vary according to the presence of lymph node metastases, and b) whether ADC values of pelvic lymph nodes vary according to metastatic or non-metastatic (nodal) status.

Thirtytwo patients with histologically proven endometrial cancer were enrolled in this prospective study. T2-weighted, dynamic T1-weighted and diffusion weighted images with background suppression (DWIBS) with b-values of 0 and 1000 s/mm2 were obtained in all patients. Then they all underwent total hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. ADC values of endometrial cancer were recorded and for each identifiable lymph node on DWIBS (n=94), mean ADC values, short- and long-axis diameters were measured and compared. Histopathological findings served as the reference standard.

The mean (+ SD) ADC value (10-3 mm2/sec) of endometrial cancer was 0.77 + 0.12, with no significant difference between ADC values of tumors which were associated with lymph node metastases (0.78 + 0.10, n=4) and tumors which were not (0.75 + 0.14, n=28) (p-value=0,64). Mean (+ SD) ADC values (10-3 mm2/sec) of metastatic lymph nodes (n=12; 0,851 + 0,134 ) were significantly lower than those of non-metastatic lymph nodes (n=82; 1,062 + 0,157) (p-value<0.0001). Long- and short-axis diameters of metastatic vs non-metastatic lymph nodes were 13,6 ± 2,4 mm vs. 12,6 ± 3,1 mm and 9 ± 4,3 mm vs. 8 ± 2,5 mm respectively.

ADC values of endometrial cancer do not correlate with the presence of lymph node metastases. However, ADC measurements of pelvic lymph nodes allow to discriminate between metastatic and non-metastatic nodes in patients with endometrial cancer.

ADC values of endometrial cancer do not correlate with presence of nodal metastases.Otherwise, ADC measurement of lymph nodes is a helpful method in definiining nodal status (normal versus metastatic).

Rechichi, G, Galimberti, S, Cadonici, A, Talei Franzesi, C, Perego, P, Sironi, S, Endometrial Cancer: Value of ADC Maps in the Evaluation of Pelvic Lymph Node Metastases.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11008205.html