3T MR Imaging with Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Dynamic MR Imaging for Evaluation of Preoperative T and N Staging of Gastric Cancer: Comparison with Multi-Detector Row Computed Tomography

Ijin Joo¹, Jeong Min Lee¹, Jung Hoon Kim¹, Cheong-Il Shin¹, Joon Koo Han¹, Byung Ihn Choi¹

Accurate preoperative T staging (depth of tumor invasion) and N staging (lymph node metastasis) of gastric cancer is critical in the determination of surgical planning. This prospective study was performed to compare the diagnostic performance of 3T MRI with diffusion-weighted imaging and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging with that of MDCT in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer. Two radiologists independently reviewed MDCT and MRI of 50 consecutive patients to determine the preoperative T and N stages. Results suggested that 3T MR imaging showed comparable diagnostic performance to MDCT both in T and N staging of gastric cancer.