MRI of the Bladder in Patients Suspected of Bladder Tumors

Karen Lind Gandrup, Jørgen Nordling, Henrik S. Thomsen

Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Department of Urology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark.

DOI: 10.4236/ojrad.2014.42028                

Abstract

Objective: To prospectively evaluate the use of MRI for the detecting of bladder tumors and the T- stage using T2W, T1W and diffusion-weighted images (DWI). Material and methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients (21 men, 7 women; age range, 20 - 82 years; mean age, 62.8 years) suspected of bladder tumors underwent MRI, flexible cystoscopy and transurethral resection (TURB). The presence of bladder tumor was confirmed by histopathology in 21 patients; 18 patients had pTa, one pT1 and two pT2. The images were reviewed by two uroradiologists. They assigned the presence of a bladder tumor and whether the tumor was non-muscle invasive (Ta and T1) or muscle- invasive (T2, T3 or T4). Results: Compared to the histopathological results, the accuracy for identifying a bladder tumor was 60.7% and 53.7% for reviewer A and B, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 66.7%/61.9% and 57.1%/42.9%. Positive predictive values were 82.6%/ 76.5%. The overall staging was correct in 47.6%/52.5%, but improved on stage-by-stage up to 50%/66.7%. The agreement between the reviewers was moderate in the detecting, staging and location of the tumor (Kappa = 0.47 - 0.57). Conclusion: A simple MRI using no contrast media, but DWI, cannot replace flexible cystoscopy in the detection of new or recurrent bladder tumors.

Keywords

Urography, Diagnostic Imaging, Hematuria, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cystoscopy

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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