[Value of computer tomography in gynecological tumors]

Abdominal CT examination is the method of choice when examining ovarial tumours. Abdominal CT is redundant in the early stages of carcinoma of the collum and if the carcinoma has penetrated into the vagina. In advanced stages of carcinoma of the collum, CT enables accurate staging. CT is at least equal in relevance to gynaecological examination in respect of assessment of parametraneous infiltration. Distant metastases, as well as complications of the efferent urinary tract can be visualized. In view of this, the following procedure appears meaningful in advanced carcinoma of the collum: First of all, gynaecological examination is performed without anaesthesia to confirm the findings in the regions of the portio and vagina; as far as possible, the existence of the central parametraneous infiltrations is confirmed. For the purpose of further staging of the parametraneous infiltration, as well as of the paraaortal lymphomas and possible metastases, as well as for the purpose of excluding hydronephrosis, computed tomography is performed. This avoids burdening the patient with an examination under anaesthesia, and it also avoids invasive examination methods, such as urography and lymphography.