OBJECTIVE. In this article, we review the role of MRI in the imaging of malignant neoplasms of the uterine corpus and cervix, describing its role in staging, treatment planning, and follow-up.CONCLUSION. MRI is not officially incorporated in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system, but is already widely accepted as the most reliable imaging technique for the diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, and follow-up of both endometrial and cervical cancer. MRI protocols need to be optimized to obtain the best results and avoid pitfalls.

https://www.ajronline.org/doi/pdf/10.2214/AJR.06.1196

MRI of Malignant Neoplasms of the Uterine Corpus and Cervix

BACKGROUND

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) is identified in 0.1% to 0.2% of hysterectomy specimens of presumed leiomyoma. To date, there is no preoperative technique that reliably differentiates ULMS from uterine leiomyoma. Increasing use of minimally invasive approaches for the management of leiomyomas may result in inadvertently morcellated ULMS with resultant intraperitoneal dissemination of tumor. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of intraperitoneal morcellation on the outcomes of patients with ULMS.



METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, all patients with ULMS who attended the authors' institutions from 2007 to 2012 were reviewed. Demographics and outcomes were compared between those who underwent morcellation or total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) as their first surgery for uterus-limited ULMS.



RESULTS

In total, 58 patients were identified, including 39 who underwent TAH and 19 who underwent intraperitoneal morcellation. Intraperitoneal morcellation was associated with a significantly increased risk of abdominal/pelvic recurrences (P = .001) and with significantly shorter median recurrence-free survival (10.8 months vs 39.6 months; P = .002). A multivariate adjusted model demonstrated a >3 times increased risk of recurrence associated with morcellation (hazard ratio, 3.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-6.8; P = .003).



CONCLUSIONS

Intraperitoneal morcellation of presumed leiomyoma worsens the outcomes of women with ULMS. Because there are no reliable preoperative techniques to distinguish ULMS from benign leiomyoma, all efforts to minimize intraperitoneal uterine morcellation should be considered. [See editorial on pages 000-000, this issue.] Cancer 2014;120:3154–3158. © 2014 American Cancer Society.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/cncr.28844

Retrospective cohort study evaluating the impact of intraperitoneal morcellation on outcomes of localized uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Uterine sarcomas are a rare heterogeneous group of tumors of mesenchymal origin, accounting for approximately 8% of uterine malignancies. They comprise leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, undifferentiated endometrial sarcoma, and adenosarcoma. Compared with the more common endometrial carcinomas, uterine sarcomas behave more aggressively and are associated with a poorer prognosis. Due to their distinct clinical and biological behavior, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics introduced a new staging system for uterine sarcomas in 2009, categorizing uterine carcinosarcoma as a variant of endometrial carcinoma, rather than a pure sarcoma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a developing role in the assessment of these malignancies. Features such as tumor localization, irregular or nodular margins, necrosis, rapid growth, intense contrast enhancement, and restriction at diffusion-weighted imaging can suggest the diagnosis and help differentiate from more common leiomyomas and endometrial carcinoma. MRI is therefore extremely useful in preoperative detection and staging and, consequently, in determination of appropriate management. This pictorial review aims to discuss the clinical features of uterine sarcomas, as well as their most common appearances and distinct characteristics in MRI.

/pdf/uterine-sarcomas-clinical-presentation-and-mri-features-uyq5txe1ty.pdf

Sung-Eun Namkoong

Papers

CT and MRI of uterine sarcomas and their mimickers.