The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of endometrial carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Gynecological cancers comprise about 19% of all cancers in women whereas the endometrial cancer is the most common malignant tumor of the female reproductive organs. The application of modern imaging tools plays an important role in the preoperative assessment of disease extent and allows the selection of a proper and adequate therapeutic approach for each patient. The purpose of this review was to show the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of endometrial carcinoma. MRI enables the display of zonal anatomy of the uterus, detection of the anomalies as well as the detection and characterization of pathological processess. Endometrial cancer is staged with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification, which was significantly revised in 2009. The FIGO classification incorporates two of the important prognostic parameters, the depth of myometrial invasion and histological grade. The depth of myometrial invasion can be accurately assessed by MRI. MRI is not officially included in the FIGO staging system. However, it is widely accepted as a suitable imaging technique for preoperative staging, treatment planning and monitoring of patients with endometrial cancer.