Objective: To evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis and preoperative staging of uterine cervical cancer.
Methods: MRI findings and staging in 72 patients with cervical carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed, and the size, location, signal intensity and invasion of the tumor were observed. MRI sequence included SE T1WI, (TSE)T2WI, T2WI/SPIR and contrast-enhanced T1WI.
Results: MRI identified uterus cervical cancer in all cases with the exception of only 1 case of IA stage. The tumor was represented by hypointensity and isointensity on T1WI, heterogeneous and homogeneous hyperintensity on T2WI, mildly heterogeneous enhancement after bolus intravenous GD-DTPA injection. MRI had an accuracy of 86% in localization of the tumor, but its accuracy in clinical staging was only 64% (chi2=6.453, P<0.05). The tumor volume measured by MRI was similar with that by pathological measurement (1.94-/+1.15 vs 1.94-/+1.11, P>0.05).
Conclusion: MRI can accurately describe the size and invasion of uterine cervical cancer, especially useful in detecting parametrial invasion, but for diagnosis of IA uterine cervical cancer, MRI findings are not sufficient without considerations of clinical findings and cellular examination.