# Comparing the efficacy of different methods in assessing cervical stromal invasion in endometrial carcinoma: a retrospective study of 2,020 patients

## TL;DR

This study compared MRI, CT, and endometrial biopsy for detecting cervical stromal invasion in endometrial cancer, finding MRI to be most effective but still needing improvement.

## Contribution

The study provides a comparative analysis of preoperative diagnostic methods for cervical stromal invasion in endometrial carcinoma using a large patient cohort.

## Key findings

- MRI outperformed CT and endometrial biopsy in sensitivity and specificity for detecting cervical stromal invasion.
- Combining MRI with biopsy improved diagnostic sensitivity for cervical stromal invasion.
- Factors like CA125 levels and myometrial invasion were associated with cervical stromal invasion.

## Abstract

This study aimed to assess the preoperative diagnostic efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), and endometrial biopsy for cervical stromal invasion (CSI) in endometrial carcinoma (EC) and to discuss the influencing factors of CSI.

A total of 2,020 patients with EC were retrospectively analyzed in a tertiary hospital. Basic patient information, clinical pathology, and laboratory indicators were collected and analyzed. Using the postoperative pathological diagnosis as the gold standard, the diagnostic efficacies of different preoperative methods were analyzed. Additionally, influencing factors of CSI were examined by univariate and multivariate analyses.

The sensitivity (Sens.), specificity (Spec.), accuracy (Acc.), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), Youden’s index, and Kappa value of the MRI vs. CT groups were 49.50% vs. 56.74%, 92.24% vs. 79.09%, 87.70% vs. 76.15%, 11.60 vs. 4.93, 0.42 vs. 0.36, and 0.392 vs. 0.256 (p < 0.001), respectively. The Sens., Spec., Acc., DOR, Youden’s index, and Kappa value of the endometrial biopsy group were 41.74%, 93.25%, 87.08%, 9.97, 0.35, and 0.363 (p < 0.001), respectively. CSI was associated with cancer antigen 125, myometrial invasion, adnexal invasion, parametrial invasion, lymph node metastasis, and progesterone receptor.

MRI is relatively superior in assessing CSI, although diagnostic authenticity and consistency were unsatisfactory. Combining MRI and biopsy could improve diagnostic sensitivity, aiding in clinical decision making and prognostic prediction. Comprehensive consideration of high-risk factors for the occurrence of CSI may aid the diagnosis. Preoperative diagnostic methods of CSI in EC still need to be explored further to improve efficiency.