Added Value of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Staging of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

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 = 146; 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. CONCLUSION: Combined CT and MR increases the diagnostic accuracy in staging of MPM compared to CT only and is important in determining the appropriate treatment in patients being considered for surgery.