title: Correlation between clinical findings and magnetic resonance imaging for the assessment of local response after standard treatment in cervical cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of our study is to evaluate the correlation between gynecological examination and magnetic resonance (MRI) findings for the assessment of local response in cervical cancer patients treated with radiotherapy/chemotherapy (RT/ChT).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a retrospective review of 75 consecutive cervical cancer patients from April 2004 to November 2009 treated with RT/ChT. Clinical and radiological data were subsequently analyzed. Patient's median age was 51 with a FIGO stage from Ib to IVb. Individualized RT/ChT was administered with a median dose of 45 Gy. Sixty-three patients received a complementary brachytherapy. Seventy-one patients received chemotherapy on a weekly basis. Gynecological exam was performed 3 months and 6 months after treatment and these findings were compared to MRI results at the same time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used the Spearman's Rho test to determine the correlation level between the clinical and radiological methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A correlation of 0.68 (60%) was observed between the clinical and MRI findings at 3 months with a further increase of up to 0.86 (82.6%) at 6 months. In the few cases with a poor correlation, the subsequent assessment and the natural history of the disease showed a greater value of the clinical exam as compared with the MRI findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physical exam remains an essential tool to evaluate the local response to RT/ChT for cervical cancer. The optimal clinical radiological correlation found at 6 months after treatment suggests that the combination of gynecological examination and MRI are probably adequate in patient monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Institute of Haematology and Oncology (ICMHO), Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Izaskun
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Valduvieco
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Institute of Haematology and Oncology (ICMHO), Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Biete
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Institute of Haematology and Oncology (ICMHO), Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Institute of Haematology and Oncology (ICMHO), Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Llorente
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Institute of Haematology and Oncology (ICMHO), Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Angels
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rovirosa
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pahisa
authors.affiliation: Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Institute of Haematology and Oncology (ICMHO), Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari of Barcelona, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Farrús
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Hospital Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Samper
keywords: Assessment of local response; Cervical cancer; Correlation clinical/radiological