Abstract
Purpose
We investigated the possible added value of magnetic resonance imaging (MR) in staging of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) compared to computed tomography (CT).
Materials and Methods
We retrospectively enrolled 20 patients (M;F = 14:6; mean age, 53.5 yrs) who diagnosed as MPM by histology and underwent CT and MR at initial evaluation from Jan 1997 to Dec 2012. Two radiologists performed clinical staging by using CT alone or MR alone in consensus. In patients underwent surgery (n = 13), we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of CT and MR in terms of staging compared to surgical staging. In all patients, we compared clinical staging of CT only and CT with MR.
Results
The diagnostic accuracy for T staging of CT only was 23.1% (3/13) and that of combined CT and MR was 38.5% (5/13), respectively. Among 13 patients underwent surgery, surgical stage was higher than combined CT and MR stage in 5 patients, but lower in 3 patients. CT only and combined CT and MR agreed in 85.0% (17/20). In cases of disagree (15.0%, 3/20), combined CT and MR showed higher stage than CT only.
Figures and Tables
Fig. 1
Differences between clinical T stage and corrected surgical T stage in patients with available surgical stage.
![jksmrm-17-232-g001](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0040jksmrm/jksmrm-17-232-g001.jpg)
Fig. 2
A representative case of upstaging by MR compared to surgical stage.
a. A CT image shows circumferential pleural thickening involving visceral and parietal pleura. Areas of obliteration of extrapleural fat probably over the expected line of endothoracic fascia suggest chest wall invasion (T4) (arrows).
b. Gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MR image shows some indentation of chest wall by the pleural mass suggesting chest wall invasion (T4) (arrows). However, patient underwent pleuropneumonectomy and surgical and histologic findings revealed no evidence of chest wall invasion (T2).
![jksmrm-17-232-g002](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0040jksmrm/jksmrm-17-232-g002.jpg)
Fig. 4
A representative case of upstaging by MR compared to CT.
a. A CT image shows pleural effusion with diffuse pleural thickening. Soft tissue density lesions are suspicious in intercostal spaces in the lower portion of hemithorax, however chest wall invasion is not clear.
b. Gadolinium-enhanced, 3-dimensional, gradient recalled echo sequence MR image clearly shows enhancing soft tissue lesions in the intercostal spaces suggesting diffuse chest wall invasion (T4) (arrow).
![jksmrm-17-232-g004](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0040jksmrm/jksmrm-17-232-g004.jpg)
Table 1
Clinical Characteristics Including Clinical and Surgical Staging of Subjects
![jksmrm-17-232-i001](/upload/SynapseData/ArticleImage/0040jksmrm/jksmrm-17-232-i001.jpg)
Note.- E, epithelial; B, biphasic, D, desmoplastic, U, unknown; Bx, image-guided biopsy; ET, exploratory thoracotomy; EPP, extrapleural pneumonectomy; VATS, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery; C, chemotherapy; S, surgery; P, palliative therapy; 3D, contrast-enhanced, 3-dimensional, gradient recalled echo sequence; DB, dynamic breathing imaging; B, Basic, basic MR sequence (3 direction T1 weighted image, T2 weighted image, contrast-enhanced T1 weighted image)
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