Role of CT scan in staging of cervical carcinoma

Accuracy of clinical and CT imaging in staging of cervical carcinoma was determined retrospectively in 26 patients in whom the extent of disease was surgically confirmed. Significances and limitations of CT staging were analyzed. CT staging was accurate in 20/26(76.9%) and clinical staging was accurate in 22/26(84.6%). So clinical staging is generally superior to CT in stage Ib or IIa. CT overstaged tumor in 3/26(11.5%) patients and understaged tumor in 3/26(11.5%). In clinical staging, incorrected staged 4(15.4%) cases were all understaged tumor. CT detected pelvic nodal enlargement in 4 cases (15.4%) and the incidence was increased by increasing stage. CT is preferable method in detecting LN metastasis. CT staging shows some limitations in patients with stage Ib and IIa carcinoma of the cervix, so it is helpful to refer the clinical findings for precise staging. And we emphasize that higher accuracy may be achieved by the use of MRI in staging of early cervical carcinoma