Functional imaging is becoming increasingly important in the evaluation of cancer patients because of the limitations of morphologic imaging, particularly in the assessment of response to therapy. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been established as a useful functional imaging tool in neurologic applications for a number of years, but recent technical advances now allow its use in abdominal and pelvic applications. Diffusion-weighted MR imaging studies of female pelvic tumors have shown reduced apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values within cervical and endometrial tumors. In addition, this unique noninvasive modality has demonstrated the capacity to help discriminate between benign and malignant uterine lesions and to help assess the extent of peritoneal spread from gynecologic malignancies. Potential pitfalls can be avoided by reviewing diffusion-weighted MR imaging findings in conjunction with anatomic imaging findings. Increasing familiarity with ADC calculation and manipulation software will allow radiologists to provide new information for the care of patients with known or suspected gynecologic malignancies.

Background This study aimed to compare the outcomes of two distinct patient populations treated within two neighboring UK cancer centers (A and B) for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Methods A retrospective analysis of all new stages 3 and 4 EOC patients treated between January 2013 and December 2014 was performed. The Mayo Clinic surgical complexity score (SCS) was applied. Cox regression analysis identified the impact of treatment methods on survival. Results The study identified 249 patients (127 at center A and 122 in centre B) without significant differences in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage (FIGO 4, 29.7% at centers A and B), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (ECOG < 2, 89.9% at centers A and B), or histology (serous type in 84.1% at centers A and B). The patients at center A were more likely to undergo surgery (87% vs 59.8%; p < 0.001). The types of chemotherapy and the patients receiving palliative treatment alone were equivalent between the two centers (3.6%). The median SCS was significantly higher at center A (9 vs 2; p < 0.001) with greater tumor burden (9 vs 6 abdominal fields involved; p < 0.001), longer median operation times (285 vs 155 min; p < 0.001), and longer hospital stays (9 vs 6 days; p < 0.001), but surgical morbidity and mortality were equivalent. The independent predictors of reduced overall survival (OS) were non-serous histology (hazard ratio [HR], 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–2.61), ECOG higher than 2 (HR, 1.9; 95% CI 1.15–3.13), and palliation alone (HR, 3.43; 95% CI 1.51–7.81). Cytoreduction, of any timing, had an independent protective impact on OS compared with chemotherapy alone (HR, 0.31 for interval surgery and 0.39 for primary surgery), even after adjustment for other prognostic factors. Conclusions Incorporating surgery into the initial EOC management, even for those patients with a greater tumor burden and more disseminated disease, may require more complex procedures and more resources in terms of theater time and hospital stay, but seems to be associated with a significant prolongation of the patients overall survival compared with chemotherapy alone.

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