The Role of Ultrasonography in Predicting Genetic Characteristics of Endometrial Cancers.

Background/

Objectives

To evaluate the association between endometrial tissue stiffness, as measured by shear wave elastography (SWE), and the presence of specific gene mutations in patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

Methods

Peripheral blood samples were collected for DNA extraction and next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify gene mutations. Preoperative SWE was performed to measure endometrial stiffness, with values expressed in kilopascals (kPa). Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the correlation between SWE measurements and genetic findings.

Results

Genetic mutations were detected in 66% (n = 31) of cases, with TTN, PLEC, and PRSS1 being the most frequently mutated genes. The median SWE measurement was 36.5 kPa (range: 19.1-70.4 kPa). No statistically significant correlation was found between SWE values and the presence of gene mutations (p > 0.05). Cases with metastasis exhibited higher median SWE values (40.1 kPa) compared to non-metastatic cases (34.7 kPa), though this difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

While no significant association was observed between endometrial stiffness and specific gene mutations, higher SWE values in metastatic cases suggest that increased tissue stiffness may be linked to tumor aggressiveness. Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate these findings and explore the potential of SWE as a non-invasive tool in assessing endometrial cancer characteristics.