What is the impact of cervical invasion on lymph node metastasis in patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer?

Preoperative Imaging Evaluation of Endometrial Cancer in FIGO 2023

The staging of endometrial cancer is based on the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system according to the examination of surgical specimens, and has revised in 2023, 14 years after its last revision in 2009. Molecular and histological classification has incorporated to new FIGO system reflecting the biological behavior and prognosis of endometrial cancer. Nonetheless, the basic role of imaging modalities including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography, as a preoperative assessment of the tumor extension and also the evaluation points in CT and MRI imaging are not changed, other than several point of local tumor extension. In the field of radiology, it has also undergone remarkable advancement through the rapid progress of computational technology. The application of deep learning reconstruction techniques contributes the benefits of shorter acquisition time or higher quality. Radiomics, which extract various quantitative features from the images, is also expected to have the potential for the quantitative prediction of risk factors such as histological types and lymphovascular space invasion, which is newly included in the new FIGO system. This article reviews the preoperative imaging diagnosis in new FIGO system and recent advances in imaging analysis and their clinical contributions in endometrial cancer. EVIDENCE LEVEL: 4 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 3.

Current Status of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Malignant Uterine Neoplasms: A Review

In this study, we summarize the clinical role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis of patients with malignant uterine neoplasms, including leiomyosarcoma, endometrial stromal sarcoma, adenosarcoma, uterine carcinosarcoma, and endometrial cancer, with emphasis on the challenges and disadvantages. MRI plays an essential role in patients with uterine malignancy, for the purpose of tumor detection, primary staging, and treatment planning. MRI has advanced in scope beyond the visualization of the many aspects of anatomical structures, including diffusion-weighted imaging, dynamic contrast enhancement-MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Emerging technologies coupled with the use of artificial intelligence in MRI are expected to lead to progressive improvement in case management of malignant uterine neoplasms.

Fertility-sparing for young patients with gynecologic cancer: How MRI can guide patient selection prior to conservative management

Historically, cancer treatment has emphasized measures for the "cure" regardless of the long-term consequences. Advances in cancer detection and treatment have resulted in improved outcomes bringing to the fore various quality of life considerations including future fertility. For many young cancer patients, fertility preservation is now an integral component of clinical decision-making and treatment design. Optimal fertility-sparing options for young patients with gynecologic cancer are influenced by patient age, primary cancer, treatment regimens, and patient preferences. Possible approaches include embryo or oocyte cryopreservation, ovarian transposition, conservative surgery, and conservative medical treatment to delay radical surgery. These may be used alone or in combination to maximize fertility preservation. Awareness of the various fertility-sparing options, eligibility criteria, and the central role of magnetic resonance imaging in the proper selection of patients will enable radiologists to produce complete clinically relevant imaging reports and serve as effective consultants to referring clinicians. Knowledge of the potential imaging pitfalls is essential to avoid misinterpretation and guide appropriate management.

Lymphadenectomy should be performed up to the renal vein in patients with intermediate-high risk endometrial cancer

We aimed to evaluate para-aortic metastases relative to the level of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and to discuss the clinico-pathological features of these patients. A total of 204 patients who underwent systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy up to the level of renal veins for endometrial cancer between January 2007 and August 2013 were included in this study. Of these 204 patients, 44 (21.6 %) had lymph node involvement. From a total of 27 patients with paraaortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis, 11 had only supramesenteric and 4 had only inframesenteric nodal involvement, while 12 had both supramesenteric and inframesenteric metastases. Supramesenteric lymph node metastases were detected in 85.2 % of patients who have para-aortic metastases and in 11.3 % of all patients. Additionally, 5 patients had only supramesenteric lymphatic metastasis. The surgico-pathological characteristics of patients with isolated supramesenteric and inframesenteric metastasis were similar. However, the patients with lymphatic spread in both regions were found to have pelvic lymphatic metastasis and cervical invasion more commonly compared to patients with only supramesenteric or only inframesenteric metastasis. The site of metastatic lymph nodes wasn't associated with the likelihood and site of recurrence. Lymphadenectomy should be performed up to the level of renal vein in case of the presence of indication for lymphadenectomy in patients with endometrial cancer. Additionally, it is not possible to predict the patients with supramesenteric lymph node involvement by tumor grade, histological type and myometrial invasion.