Ryoya Ochiai

Amide proton transfer imaging in differentiation of type II and type I endometrial carcinoma: a pilot study

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed at evaluating the efficacy of amide proton transfer (APT) imaging in differentiation of type II and type I uterine endometrial carcinoma.Materials and methodsThirty-three patients diagnosed with uterine endometrial carcinoma, including 24 with type I and 9 with type II carcinomas, underwent APT imaging. Two readers evaluated the magnetization transfer ratio at 3.5 ppm [MTRasym(3.5 ppm)] in each type of carcinoma. The average MTRasym(APTmean) and the maximum MTRasym(APTmax) were analyzed. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed.ResultsThe APTmaxwas significantly higher in type II carcinomas than in type I carcinomas (reader1,p = 0.004; reader 2,p = 0.014; respectively). However, APTmeanshowed no significant difference between type I and II carcinomas. Based on the results reported by reader 1, the area under the curve (AUC) pertaining to the APTmaxfor distinguishing type I from type II carcinomas was 0.826, with a cut-off, sensitivity, and specificity of 9.90%, 66.7%, and 91.3%, respectively. Moreover, based on the results reported by reader 2, the AUC was 0.750, with a cut-off, sensitivity, and specificity of 9.80%, 62.5%, and 87.5%, respectively.ConclusionAPT imaging has the potential to determine the type of endometrial cancer.