Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography vs MRI for evaluation of local invasion by cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE:: The purpose of this study is to compare contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to MRI for evaluating local invasion of cervical cancer.

METHODS:: A total of 108 patients with cervical cancer were included in this study. All the enrolled patients were Stage IIA2-IVB according to the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology and treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy. Tumour size in different dimensions was compared between MRI and CEUS. The correlation coefficients (r) between MRI and CEUS for diagnosing local invasion, parametrial extension, and invasion to vagina, uterine corpus and adjacent organs were assessed.

RESULTS:: Measurements by MRI and CEUS were strongly correlated in the three dimensions: left-right r = 0.84, craniocaudal r = 0.86 and anteroposterior r = 0.88. Vaginal and parametrial invasion were detected by both MRI and CEUS with moderate concordance, and invasion of uterine corpus, bladder and rectum with good concordance.

CONCLUSION:: CEUS is comparable to MRI for measuring tumour size, with good concordance for evaluating invasion of cervical cancer.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:: CEUS is a less expensive non-invasive modality for assessment of tumour size and invasion of cervical cancer.