A study looking at a type of MRI scan for cervical cancer
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This study looked at diffusion weighted MRI (DW MRI) for cervical cancer. The study was for women with cervical cancer that was still in the neck of the womb (early cervical cancer).
This trial was open for people to join between 2013 and 2019. The team published several results between 2014 and 2020.
More about this trial
Doctors use MRI scans to find out features about a cancer. This can help them predict the outcome (your 
). Researchers thought the DW MRI scan might be better.
The aim of this study was to find out whether DW MRI plus other MRI features not visible to the naked eye (called radiomics) were able to tell if cervical cancer was likely to have a good or a bad outcome.
Summary of results
The DW MRI scan has the ability to show the type and of cervical cancers. The information it provides is about the whole cancer. Unlike a tissue sample () that shows only a small part.
About this study
The study team looked at the scans of 125 women with early stage cervical cancer. They measured the volume of the cancer in cubic centimetres (cc).
The team compared cancers that were more than 4.19 cc with cancers that were less than 4.19 cc.
They also compared the cancer seen in the tissue removed during surgery with what was on the scan.
Results
Of the 125 women:
- 46 women had a cancer that was greater than 4.19 cc in volume
- 79 women had a cancer that was less than 4.19 cc in volume
They compared the measurements made on DW-MRI and the radiomics features of the cancers in both groups. They found there were significant differences between them.
The team showed that those small volume cancers that had radiomics features that were more widespread than in the large volume cancers were more likely to recur.
They looked at using radiomics and DW-MRI measurements together and compared it with the information currently used in the clinic. They found that the combination of DW-MRI and radiomics was best at predicting outcome.
The team also found they could use DW MRI scans to detect and show the stage of early small cervical cancers.
Conclusion
The study team concluded that DW MRI scan could:
- show the type and grade of early cervical cancers
- identify features invisible to the naked eye. And with the usual factors used in the clinic it can predict the outcome of small volume cancers better.
They say that this could influence decisions about the amount and timing of surgery needed. This is especially important for women who want to be able to have a family.
Where this information comes from
We have based this summary on information from the research team. The information they sent us has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. The figures we quote above were provided by the trial team who did the research. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
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How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Professor Nandita DeSouza
Supported by
Cancer Research UK Imaging Centre
Institute of Cancer Research (ICR)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Facility in Imaging
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
