Evaluation of endometrial cancer with 3D-VIBE (volume interpolated breath-hold examination) using intrauterine CO2 gas.

To evaluate the myometrial infiltration of the endometrial cancer prior to aggressive treatment, dynamic MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) has attracted attention. However, it has also been found that in a number of cases, MRI exhibits inconsistent results with regards to the extent of the infiltration into this component of the uterine body. To overcome this limitation, the authors designed a method to delineate the tumor morphology more clearly by injecting CO2 gas into the uterine cavity. This procedure was combined with VIBE (volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination) to determine more precisely the depth of the tumor invasion. From our clinical results, the efficacy of the method was evaluated. On four patients with endometrial cancers (stage Ia-Ic), CO2 was injected to dilate the intra-uterine space through a catheter equipped with a balloon that had been introduced into the uterine cavity, after which VIBE was conducted. The images were interpreted by MPR (multiplanar reconstruction) and the findings from these images were compared against the histopathological findings. By employing this method, it was possible to delineate clearly the tumorous lesion in the uterine body, and three-dimensional images of the tumor invasion was acquired. The site and extent of tumor invasion in the myometrium were generally consistent with the histopathological findings. This method allows one to observe multiple planes by using thin slices. By dilating the uterine cavity, the site of involvement and the extent of invasion can be more precisely defined before treatment. It is truly a revolutionary procedure for determining-prior to surgery-the depth of invasion of a cancer located in the uterine body.