Evaluation of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and MR spectroscopy (MRS) as early response biomarkers in cervical cancer patients

Purpose To prospectively assess whether choline levels and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) values within cervical cancers before, during, and after non-surgical therapy are predictive of tumour response. Patients and methods Patients undergoing MR examination for staging of cervical cancer, candidate for non-surgical therapy, were prospectively enrolled. According to the status at the end of therapies, patients were divided into responders and non-responders. The final outcome after a 5-year follow-up was classified as No Evidence of Disease (NED) or Progression of Disease (PD). Baseline values of mean ADC and Cho/H2O were compared between responders and non-responders, as well as between patients with NED and PD. The percent variation of ADC and Cho/H2O values over time was compared. P values