Diffusion-weighted MRI added to standard T2-weighted scans can help spot cervical cancer in its early stages. A preliminary study from the Institute of Cancer Research in London determined that DWI can spot tumors missed by T2 imaging and shore up management options for women who wish to preserve reproductive organs.
From November 2005 to September 2007, Dr. Nandita M. deSouza and colleagues prospectively enrolled 59 women, aged 24 to 83, who underwent T2-weighted imaging and a one-minutelong DWI sequence with a specially designed intravaginal coil. The investigators found water diffusion was significantly reduced in cancerous tissue compared with normal tissue in these patients (p < .0001). DWI enabled researchers to differentiate cervical cancers from the normal glandular lining of the cervix. DWI also improved detection of small but clinically important lesions that are difficult to image and often missed (Radiology 2008;249:541-550).
