MR imaging findings of uterine cervical carcinoma

Uterine cervical carcinoma is a common gynecologic malignancy, and one of the important causes of woman mortality. MR imaging, nowadays, is widely used as the single most effective modality for the cervical carcinoma. T2-weighted fast spin-echo MR images may demonstrate the high-signal-intensity cervical carcinoma. Oblique axial images perpendicular to the cervical canal may be more accurate in the evaluation of parametrial invasion and stromal involvement of the cancer. Dynamic MR imaging may improve tumor detection and depiction of the depth of stromal and parametrial invasion of the tumor. Lymph node greater than 1 cm in short-axis diameter, especially when it is necrotic, may be a malignant metastatic node rather than hyperplastic one. MR imaging with its superior soft-tissue resolution is the best helpful and useful modality in the staging of cervical carcinoma to differentiate early cervical carcinoma (stages IA and IB, or IIA) that can be treated by simple hysterectomy or radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymph node dissection from advanced tumors (stages IIB, III or IVA) that require pelvic irradiation with chemotherapy or more advanced tumors (stage IVB) that require chemotherapy with or without pelvic irradiation. Familiarity with the spectrum of MR imaging findings of the uterine cervical carcinoma will allow the clinicians to consider appropriate treatment of the patients.