The accurate staging prior to surgery is essential in the management of the patients with endometrial cancer. This study aimed to compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results to surgicopathological staging of endometrial cancer and evaluate the accuracy of MRI in staging carcinoma of the endometrium.

Thirty one patients with endometrial cancer confirmed by fractional D&C&B were evaluated with MRI imaging prior to surgery. After surgery, we compared MRI findings and surgicopathological findings.

Overall accuracy of MRI in staging carcinoma of the endometrium, compared with the final stage including surgicopathological results, was 67.7% (21/31, Kendall's Tau-b=0.747). In prediction of myometrial invasion, MRI imaging had an accuracy of 80.6% (25/31, Kendall's Tau-b=0.746). The accuracy in prediction of cervical invasion was 90.3% (25/31, Kendall's Tau-b=0.766). The accuracy in prediction of myometrial invasion for grade I, II, and III was 64.3% (9/14) (Kendall's Tau-b=0.422), 100% (10/10) (Kendall's Tau-b=1.000) and 100% (10/10) (Kendall's Tau-b=1.000), respectively. In grade II and III, the accuracy in prediction of myometrial invasion significantly increased compared to grade I (p<0.05).

MRI imaging is a highly promising method for the prediction of staging carcinoma of the endometrium, and seems to be a more judicious assessment for the detection of myometrial invasion and cervical invasion in the patients with all grades of endometrial cancers.