Objective: The aim of this study was to compare CT and MRI at 0.5 T in the preoperative staging of uterine cervical cancer in a large series of patients.
Materials and methods: Ninety-nine patients with uterine cervical carcinoma underwent CT, MRI, and surgical exploration.
Results: Both CT and MR findings were compared using surgical-pathologic findings as gold standards. Magnetic resonance imaging was superior to CT in tumor detection (sensitivity 75 vs. 51%, p < 0.005), in parametrial evaluation (accuracy 87 vs. 80%, p < 0.005), in overall tumor staging (accuracy 77 vs. 69%, p < 0.025), and in pelvic lymph node evaluation (accuracy 88 vs. 83%, p < 0.01). Magnetic resonance imaging had an accuracy of 76% in assessment of the thickness of cervical stromal invasion.
Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging was superior to CT in preoperative staging of uterine cervical carcinoma and MRI should be used instead of CT for preoperative staging of this disease.