Capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of cancer of the cervix uteri

Abstract

Cervical cancer (CC) is the third most common malignancy in women. The treatment depends on the extent of disease, i. e. on the stage of cancer. Staging of CC is based on the FIGO classification (2009) which has challenges in the evaluation of tumor invasion in parametrium and pelvic walls, involvement of regional lymphnodes and establishment of the real dimensions of the tumor by routine diagnostics approaches.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) looks like the method of choice in the staging of invasive CC. MRI is helpful in the evaluation of CC starting from stage IB FIGO (2009), to plan surgery or chemo-radiotherapy, to evaluate efficacy of treatment and to detect local tumor recurrence.

Keywords

• сervical сancer
• international federation of gynecology and obstetrics
• magnetic resonance imaging
• diffusion-weighted imaging
• apparent diffusion coefficient
• dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging
• positron emission tomography