[Diagnostic imaging in invasive cervical carcinoma: MRI, CT, and ultrasonography]

Carcinoma of the cervix is the fourth most common cancer in women. Accurate staging of the disease is essential in selecting optimal therapy. The clinical staging based on the criteria of the FIGO is inaccurate. With MRI an excellent imaging of the tumour spread within the cervix can be achieved, also tumour extension to the parametria and infiltration of the neighbouring structures as bladder and rectum. MRI is the method of choice in the preoperative staging of cervical cancer. Computed tomography and sonography have lower staging value compared to the MRI. An advantage of CT, compared with MRI, is the high accuracy in investigations of patients with ureteral obstruction and hydronephrosis. Both methods MRI and CT are comparable in assessing pelvic and paraaortic lymph node metastases.