title: Imaging techniques for the evaluation of cervical cancer.
abstract: Improvements in the treatment of cervical carcinoma have made it possible to offer optimal and personalised treatment. Cervical cancer staging is based on clinical examination and histological findings. Many diagnostic methods are used in clinical practice. Magnetic resonance imaging is considered the optimal method for staging cervical carcinoma because of its high accuracy in assessing local extension of disease and distant metastases. Ultrasound has gained increased attention in recent years; it is faster, cheaper, and more widely available than other imaging techniques, and is highly accurate in detecting tumour presence and evaluating local extension of disease. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound are often used together with computed tomography or positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography to assess the whole body, a more accurate detection of pathological lymph nodes and metabolic information of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonia Carla
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Testa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: alessia.dilegge@virgilio.it.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Legge
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Blasis
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Moruzzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Verona, "G.B. Rossi" Hospital, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonatti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collarino
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rufini
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Verona, "G.B. Rossi" Hospital, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manfredi
mesh_terms: D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011379:Prognosis; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014621:Vagina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: cervical cancer staging; computed tomography; diagnostic methods; magnetic resonance imaging; positron emission tomography; ultrasound