MRI in stage I carcinoma of the uterine cervix: evaluation of residual uninvolved myometrium and pericervical tissues

The purpose of the present prospective study was, to determine the efficacy of MRI in predicting extracervical tumour invasion on the basis of the presence of a very thin (< 3 mm) univolved cervical stromal ring. Forty-seven consecutive patients with uterine cervical carcinoma (FIGO stages Ib-IIa) were examined with axial and sagittal T2-weighted MRI sequences. Pathological proof after hysterectomy was obtained in all women. On he basis of the MRI visualisation of a thinned stroma (<3 mm), the sensitiivity in predicting extracervical involvement was 94.1% and the specificity 73.3% (accuracy 80.85%). On the basis A the detection of complete stromal disruption the MRI sensitivity ill predicting extracervical involvement was 76.5% and specificity 93.3% (accuracy 87.23%). The results of our study indicate that in the interpretation of MRI findings, the visualisation of an uninvolved cervical stromal ring at least 3 min thick can predict the presence of extracervical tumour with very high sensitivity. © 1994 Springer-Verlag.