Correlation between ultrasonographic findings and histopathological and molecular characteristics in endometrial cancer: A multicenter study
Accurate preoperative assessment of endometrial cancer is crucial for tailoring surgical and therapeutic management. Identifying correlations between ultrasonographic features and tumor histopathological and molecular profiles may help improve the accuracy of presurgical staging. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to evaluate the association between ultrasonographic features, histopathological characteristics and molecular profiles in endometrial cancer to improve preoperative assessment and risk stratification. A total of 156 women from three Italian centers underwent standardized transvaginal or transrectal ultrasound following IETA criteria prior to hysterectomy. Ultrasonographic parameters, including endometrial thickness, echogenicity, junctional zone integrity, and vascularity assessed by Doppler, were analyzed. Postoperative histopathology and molecular classification (p53, MMR, POLE, NSMP) were performed. Statistical analyses evaluated correlations among ultrasound features, pathology, and molecular data. Endometrioid histotype was detected in 88.46 % of cases, mostly low-grade and early-stage. Cases in the early stage (i.e. lesions confined to the uterine corpus) accounted for 77.27 % of all cases. Ultrasound staging was consistent with the final staging in 65.5 % of cases, with errors primarily involving the overestimation of p53-abnormal tumors and the underestimation of MMRd tumors. Increased endometrial thickness was associated with a higher stage and grade (median 20 mm for stage III, p = 0.007). An irregular junctional zone was associated with high-grade tumors (p = 0.016). Complex and multifocal vascular patterns were significantly linked to advanced stages, high grade, and molecular aggressiveness, such as p53 mutations and MMR deficiency. Tumors with scattered vessels showed a higher risk of extensive lymphovascular space invasion. Ultrasound features, particularly vascularity, junctional zone irregularity, and endometrial thickness, are significantly associated with tumor stage, grade, and molecular profiles. Incorporating detailed ultrasonographic assessment into preoperative evaluation can help identify high-risk endometrial cancers and guide personalized management strategies. Larger prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.
