Transitional cell carcinoma MRI

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Suveenkrishna Pothuru, M.B,B.S. [2]

Overview

MRI findings of transitional cell carcinoma of renal pelvis include isointense to renal parenchyma on T1 and T2, moderate enhancement on T1 contrast. MRI findings of transitional cell carcinoma of bladder and ureter include isotense to muscle on T1 signal, slightly hyperintense to muscle on T2 signal, and demonstrate enhancement on contrast MRI.

MRI

MRI is as reliable as CT for staging of invasive or locally advanced disease and may be better at evaluating tumors at the base and dome of the bladder.

Gadolinium-enhanced MRI may be superior to CT to detect superficial and multiple tumors, extravesical tumor extension, and surrounding organ invasion.^[1]^[2]
MRI is useful for patients with contrast dye allergy
. Findings on MRI diagnostic of transitional cell carcinoma include:^[3]


Signal	Renal Pelvis	Ureter	Urinary Bladder

T1 Signal	Isointense to renal parenchyma	Isointense to muscle	Isointense to muscle
T2 Signal	Isointense to renal parenchyma	Slightly hyperintense to muscle	Slightly hyperintense to muscle
T1 C+ (Gd):	Moderate enhancement	Enhancement	Enhancement

References

↑ Tekes A, Kamel I, Imam K, Szarf G, Schoenberg M, Nasir K; et al. (2005). “Dynamic MRI of bladder cancer: evaluation of staging accuracy”. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 184 (1): 121–7. doi:10.2214/ajr.184.1.01840121. PMID 15615961.
↑ Kim B, Semelka RC, Ascher SM, Chalpin DB, Carroll PR, Hricak H (1994). “Bladder tumor staging: comparison of contrast-enhanced CT, T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging, dynamic gadolinium-enhanced imaging, and late gadolinium-enhanced imaging”. Radiology. 193 (1): 239–45. doi:10.1148/radiology.193.1.8090898. PMID 8090898.
↑ Browne, Ronan F. J.; Meehan, Conor P.; Colville, Jane; Power, Raymond; Torreggiani, William C. (2005). “Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Upper Urinary Tract: Spectrum of Imaging Findings1”. RadioGraphics. 25 (6): 1609–1627. doi:10.1148/rg.256045517. ISSN 0271-5333.

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[pmid15615961-1] Tekes A, Kamel I, Imam K, Szarf G, Schoenberg M, Nasir K; et al. (2005). “Dynamic MRI of bladder cancer: evaluation of staging accuracy”. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 184 (1): 121–7. doi:10.2214/ajr.184.1.01840121. PMID 15615961.

[pmid8090898-2] Kim B, Semelka RC, Ascher SM, Chalpin DB, Carroll PR, Hricak H (1994). “Bladder tumor staging: comparison of contrast-enhanced CT, T1- and T2-weighted MR imaging, dynamic gadolinium-enhanced imaging, and late gadolinium-enhanced imaging”. Radiology. 193 (1): 239–45. doi:10.1148/radiology.193.1.8090898. PMID 8090898.

[BrowneMeehan2005-3] Browne, Ronan F. J.; Meehan, Conor P.; Colville, Jane; Power, Raymond; Torreggiani, William C. (2005). “Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Upper Urinary Tract: Spectrum of Imaging Findings1”. RadioGraphics. 25 (6): 1609–1627. doi:10.1148/rg.256045517. ISSN 0271-5333.

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