Comparison of 3D and 2D FSE T2-weighted MR imaging in the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis: preliminary results

Genital / Reproductive system female, MR, Computer Applications-3D, Technical aspects, Inflammation Authors: M. Bazot1, A. stivalet2, I. Thomassin-Naggara1, E. Darai1, C. Coudray1, E. Poncelet3; 1Paris/FR, 2puteaux/FR, 3Lille/FR DOI: 10.1594/ecr2011/C-2243 Purpose Pelvic endometriosis is a frequent gynecologic disorder affecting 10-15% of women in reproductive years. MRI has been demonstrated to be the best imaging technique to assess the various locations of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). Conventional MRI protocol for the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis includes multiplanar 2D Fast Spin Echo (FSE) T2-weighted MR images in addition to T1 weighted MR images with and without fat-suppressed technique (1). With this protocol, various studies have demonstrated that MRI is relevant to predict the extension of pelvic endometriosis with...

and Materials Between February 2010 and May 2010, 110 consecutive patients from two different radiological centers (median age: 34 years; range 24-46 years), referred for pelvic MR imaging for a clinical suspicion of endometriosis, were prospectively enrolled (IRB and written informed consent obtained). MRI technique MR images were acquired on 1.5 Tesla system. In both radiological centers, a conventional protocol including sagittal, axial, coronal oblique FSE T2-weighted images and 3D gradient echo T1 images ± fat suppression was used. Three-dimensional imaging using a coronal single slab 3D...

Surgical and pathologic findings Out of 110 patients, 23 underwent surgery. All patients except 3 (87%) had histologically proven pelvic endometriosis. Ovarian endometriosis and DIE was present in 11 (47.8%) and 18 (78.2%) out of 23 patients, respectively. DIE of uterosacral ligaments, vagina, rectosigmoid colon, and bladder was detected in 17 (73.9%), 5 (21.7%), 13 (56.5%) and 1(4.3%) out of 23 patients, respectively. Complete cul-de-sac obliteration was noted in 10 (30.3%) out of 23 patients. Overall imaging quality evaluation Overall imaging quality evaluation was performed...

The present study demonstrates that despite a lower overall imaging quality, 3D CUBE offers similar accuracy to diagnoseDIE compared to 2D FSE T2-weighted MRI. MRI evaluation of pelvic endometriosis is routinely performed with multiplanar sagittal, axial and coronal 2D FSE T2-weighted sequences. These sequences are significantly longer to acquire, compared to 3D CUBE, and on average twice as long. This gain in acquisition time represents a major advantage of 3D CUBE. Our study is the first focusing on the contribution of 3D T2-weighted MR imaging...

1. Bazot M, Gasner A, Ballester M, Darai E. Value of thin-section oblique axial T2-weighted images to assess uterosacral ligament endometriosis. Human Reproduction 2010;(in press). 2. Bazot M, Darai E, Hourani R, et al. Deep pelvic endometriosis: MR imaging for diagnosis and prediction of extension of disease. Radiology 2004;232(2):379-389. 3. Abrao MS, Goncalves MO, Dias JA, Jr., Podgaec S, Chamie LP, Blasbalg R. Comparison between clinical examination, transvaginal sonography and magnetic resonance imaging for the diagnosis of deep endometriosis. Hum Reprod 2007;22(12):3092-3097. 4. Bazot M,... Personal Information Marc Bazot, MD1, Aude Stivalet, MD1, Thomassin-Naggara, MD1, PhD1,Emile Daraï, MD2, PhD2 Cyril Coudray3, and Edouard Poncelet, MD4 Departments of Radiology (1) and Obstetrics and Gynecology (2), Tenon hospital, 4 rue de la Chine, 75020, Paris, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) General Electric Healthcare (3), 11, avenue Morane Saulnier, 78140, Velizy Department of Radiology (4), Jeanne de Flandre hospital, Lille Correspondence: Professor Marc Bazot, Service de Radiologie, Hôpital Tenon, APHP, 4 rue de la Chine, 75020, Paris, France Tel: +33 1 56 0170...