This study identified the incidence of parametrial involvement in low risk, early-stage cervical cancer patients and evaluated the factors associated with parametrial involvement. All stage IA2-IB1 cervical cancer patients who underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma grade 1-2, tumour size less than 2 cm, no lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), negative pelvic nodes and depth of stromal invasion (DSI) less than 10 mm were identified as the low-risk group. A total of 243 patients were eligible. Squamous cell carcinomas were the most frequent histological cell type (65%). Most patients (81.5%) had tumour size less than 2 cm. Thirteen patients (5.3%) had parametrial involvement, 77 (31.7%) had DSI more than 10 mm, 121 (49.8%) had more than 50% invasion, 119 (49%) had LVSI and 19 (7.5%) had node metastasis. Ninety-five patients (39.1%) were defined as low risk. None of low-risk group had parametrial involvement. DSI more than 10 mm or more than 50% stromal invasion, presence of LVSI and pelvic node metastasis were significant factors associated with parametrial involvement. Parametrial involvement in low-risk, early-stage cervical cancer is extremely low. Less radical surgery may be an alternative treatment option.