J Gynecol Oncol.  2018 May;29(3):e26. 10.3802/jgo.2018.29.e26.

What MRI features suspect malignant pure mesenchymal uterine tumors rather than uterine leiomyoma with cystic degeneration?

• Kim TH
• Kim JW
• Kim SY
• Kim SH
• Cho JY

• KMID: 2409930
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2018.29.e26

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To retrospectively assess conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features that differentiate malignant pure mesenchymal uterine tumors (MPMUT); endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) and leiomyosarcoma (LMS) from uterine leiomyoma with cystic degeneration (ULCD).
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed magnetic resonance (MR) images of 30 patients with ULCD, 18 with ESS, and 15 with LMS, to assess tumor location, margin, T2 signal intensity (SI), speckled appearance, and peripheral band using univariate and multivariate analyses.
RESULTS
ULCD more frequently showed subserosal location (53.3%), well-defined margin (96.7%), and speckled appearance (90.0%) compared with ESS (0%, 33.3%, and 33.3%, respectively) or LMS (20.0%, 33.3%, and 60.0%, respectively). In quantitative T2 SI comparisons, the T2 SI ratio of the main solid tumor portion to gluteus maximus muscle differed significantly among the three groups, with ULCD showing a lower SI ratio (0.62) compared with ESS (2.44) and LMS (1.13). On multivariate analysis, an ill-defined margin (odds ratio [OR]=44.885; p=0.003) and high T2 SI (OR=4.396; p=0.046) were the significant MR differentiators.
CONCLUSION
An ill-defined tumor margin and high T2 SI ratio of the main solid tumor-to-gluteus maximus muscle were useful MRI features in the differentiation of MPMUT from ULCD.

Keyword

Leiomyoma; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal; Leiomyosarcoma; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Cystic Degeneration

MeSH Terms

Humans
Leiomyoma*
Leiomyosarcoma
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Multivariate Analysis
Retrospective Studies
Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal