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An evaluation of morphological and functional multi-parametric MRI sequences in classifying non-muscle and muscle invasive bladder cancer

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Abstract

Objectives

Our goal is to determine the ability of multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) to differentiate muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) from non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

Methods

Patients underwent mpMRI before tumour resection. Four MRI sets, i.e. T2-weighted (T2W) + perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), T2W plus diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), T2W + DWI + PWI, and T2W + DWI + PWI + dif-fusion tensor imaging (DTI) were interpreted qualitatively by two radiologists, blinded to histology results. PWI, DWI and DTI were also analysed quantitatively. Accuracy was determined using histopathology as the reference standard.

Results

A total of 82 tumours were analysed. Ninety-six percent of T1-labeled tumours by the T2W + DWI + PWI image set were confirmed to be NMIBC at histopathology. Overall accuracy of the complete mpMRI protocol was 94% in differentiating NMIBC from MIBC. PWI, DWI and DTI quantitative parameters were shown to be significantly different in cancerous versus non-cancerous areas within the bladder wall in T2-labelled lesions.

Conclusions

MpMRI with DWI and DTI appears a reliable staging tool for bladder cancer. If our data are validated, then mpMRI could precede cystoscopic resection to allow a faster recognition of MIBC and accelerated treatment pathways.

Key Points

• A critical step in BCa staging is to differentiate NMIBC from MIBC.

• Morphological and functional sequences are reliable techniques in differentiating NMIBC from MIBC.

• Diffusion tensor imaging could be an additional tool in BCa staging.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Valeria Panebianco, Giovanni Barchetti, Marcello Domenico Grompone, Maurizio Del Monte, Davide Carano & Carlo Catalano

  2. Department of Gynaecological-Obstetric and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena, 336, 00161, Rome, Italy

    Ettore De Berardinis & Constantino Leonardo

  3. Department of Urology, “Regina Elena” National Cancer Insitute, Via Elio Chianesi, 53, 00144, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Simone & Michele Gallucci

  4. Academic Urology Unit, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK

    James Catto

Authors
  1. Valeria Panebianco
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  2. Ettore De Berardinis
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  3. Giovanni Barchetti
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  4. Giuseppe Simone
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  5. Constantino Leonardo
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  6. Marcello Domenico Grompone
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  7. Maurizio Del Monte
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  8. Davide Carano
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  9. Michele Gallucci
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  10. James Catto
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  11. Carlo Catalano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Valeria Panebianco.

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Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Valeria Panebianco.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Funding

The authors state that this work has not received any funding.

Statistics and biometry

Giovanni Barchetti kindly provided statistical advice for this manuscript.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.

Methodology

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• experimental

• performed at one institution

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Panebianco, V., De Berardinis, E., Barchetti, G. et al. An evaluation of morphological and functional multi-parametric MRI sequences in classifying non-muscle and muscle invasive bladder cancer. Eur Radiol 27, 3759–3766 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4758-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-017-4758-3

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