Association of MRI of uterine leiomyoma with parameters, characterizing of leiomyoma cells proliferation

Data of MRI have the great diagnostic value for the estimation of the character of uterine leiomyoma growth, but do not allow make the unambiguous conclusions about the tumor proliferative activity.

Aim: to elucidate the relationship between MRI of uterine leiomyoma and level of tumor proliferation and assess the possibility of the using of MRI data for pre-operative diagnostic of proliferative tumor growth.

Materials and methods. Observation of 29 women with uterine leiomyoma was carried out. Before surgical treatment of the patients the MRI investigation with the general pelvic examination and estimation of the quantity of leiomyomas, their position, size and structure was conducted. In leiomyoma tissue and normal myometrium the Ki-67, transforming growth factor β3 (TGF β3) collagen 1A1 (COL1A1) and β-actin (housekeeper gene) mRNAs expressions were estimated by real-time reverse-transcription polymerasechain reaction.

Results. According MRI data the most significant differences between studied leiomyomas were connected with T2-weighted signal in comparison with unchanged myometrium: the low T2-weighted signal and preferentially homogenous tissue structure were observed in 58,5% cases, and the increased T2-weighted signal with some heterogeneous structure of tumor were found in 41.1% samples. MRI data were correlated with results of molecular-genetic investigation: the low T2-weighted signal was associated with high levels of TGFβ3, COL1A1 mRNAs expression and minimal level of Ki-67 mRNA expression, whereas in leiomyomas with high T2-weighted signal the high Ki-67 mRNA expression was noted.

Conclusion. Leiomyomas with heterogeneous structure and high T2 W signal are characterized by the high level of proliferative activity and this observation must be taken into account during leiomyoma estimation and choice of patient’s treatment tactic.

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