Comparison of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of tumor size and local invasion of surgically treated cervical cancer.

Abstract

This retrospective study aimed to compare the performance of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in staging surgically treated early-stage cervical cancer. Patients with surgically treated cervical carcinoma confirmed by post-operative pathological findings were included between December 2016 and December 2018. All included patients underwent both CEUS and MRI examinations before the surgery. Post-operative pathology was used as the gold standard. The κ values were calculated to assess the agreements of CEUS and MRI in staging cervical carcinoma in comparison with post-operative pathology. Complete data were available for 39 patients. CEUS showed great inter-observer reproducibility in tumor measurement [Intra-class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) 0.831] and moderate inter-observer reproducibility in the evaluation of vaginal infiltration and parametrial invasion (Cohen's κ 0.692 and 0.624). Tumor size was comparable as measured by CEUS and MRI (ICC 0.769). Both CEUS and MRI presented good concordance with post-operative pathology in staging cervical cancer (weighted κ 0.732 and 0.761). CEUS was comparable to MRI in staging surgically treated cervical cancer and might be considered in the pre-treatment work-up for cervical cancer.