MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING OF THE BLADDER TUMORS

Abstract

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was performed in 17 patients using a 0.256 Tesla supercoding magnetic system. Images were produced in the transverse, coronal and sagittal directions with different repetition times, delay times and echo times. Bladder tumors were readily shown due to the superior ability of MRI for soft tissue characterization, the bladder wall was a low intensity band in contrast to the higher intensity urine within the bladder seen best on T2-weighted studies. The overall accuracy of MRI staging in the 17 patients in surgically confirmed disease stages was 70.6%. The overall accuracy in predicting muscle invasion was 76.5%.