Computed tomography: does it really improve the treatment of cervical carcinoma?
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if computed tomography in cervical cancer staging resulted in treatment modifications leading to improved survival.


METHODS
Medical records of 246 consecutive women treated over a 3-year period for primary cervical cancer were reviewed. Frequency of recurrence was the outcome measure of interest and subjected to chi 2 analysis.


RESULTS
Only eight patients had improved survival from treatment modifications based on computed tomography findings. Eight patients underwent additional surgical procedures because of computed tomography findings that proved to be erroneous.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the high cost and limited benefit, computed tomography for cervical cancer staging is not recommended.
Moore
D H
DH
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
Dotters
D J
DJ
Fowler
W C
WC
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy