The value of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with carcinoma of the cervix (a pilot study).

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 11 patients with untreated squamous carcinoma of the cervix. The MRI stage and clinical stage were both compared with the surgical stage. MRI stage was only accurate in three of the 11 patients (27.3%) while the clinical stage was correct in eight of the 11 cases (72.7%). MRI assessment of parametrial and lymph-node involvement was difficult to interpret. These preliminary findings suggest that MRI is not, at present, a useful adjunct to staging in the evaluation of patients with carcinoma of the cervix.