The relationship between characteristics of cervical cancer at contrast-enhanced ultrasound and prognostic factors

Objective To evaluate the relationship between characteristics of cervical cancer at contrast-enhanced ultrasound and prognostic factors. Methods Thirty-five patients with pathologically confirmed cervical cancer were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. All the patients accepted contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination before the surgery. Relationships between the characters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and the expression of ki-67 antigen(cell proliferation marker), tumor diameter, lymph node metastasis and histologic grade were studied. Results (1)Compared to the surrounding normal tissue, the cervical cancer had statistically significant differences in time to peak and peak intensity(P<0.05), the former was shortened, and the latter was increased. (2)The ratio of perfusion defect and heterogeneous enhancement were significantly higher in tissues, including the ki-67 positive expression tissue, poorly differentiated or larger tumors (≥2.0 cm in diameter) (P<0.05). (3)Compared to the ki-67 negative expression group, time to peak of the ki-67 positive expression group was shorter and the peak intensity was higher, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). (4)The peak intensity of poorly differentiated cervical cancers was significantly higher than that of the other groups (P<0.05). Conclusions Enhancement patterns and parameters of contrast-enhanced ultrasound were associated with prognosis, which may be useful in noninvasive prediction of the patients with cervical cancers. Key words: Ultrasonography; Microbubbles; Uterine cervical neoplasms; Ki-67 antigen; Prognosis