Diagnosis and treatment of occult cervical cancer with the help of magnetic resonance imaging：A report of six clinical cases

Abstract:

Objective：To evaluate the value of magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） in the diagnosis of occult cervical cancer. Methods：Six menopausal patients with advanced cervical cancer were enrolled；they had a history of bleeding after sexual intercourse or vagi－nal bleeding and were highly suspected of having invasive cervical cancer，but no pathological evidence of invasive cancer was found in multiple conventional three-step examinations（i.e.，cytology，colposcopy，and cervical biopsy） of cervical cancer. Abdominopelvic MRI revealed definitive lesions of invasive cervical cancer，which was pathologically confirmed after the operation. Results：Definitive cervical cancer was recognized in the MRI results of all these six patients，with clear contrast observed between cancer and cervical stroma，endometrium，and parametrial fat tissue. The coincidence rate of tumor size between MRI results and postoperative measure－ments was 88.5%[（2.370±1.109） cm vs. （2.250±1.084） cm，P>0.05]. Conclusion：Given the price of the examination，MRI has not been included as a routine examination in the diagnosis of cervical cancer. Nevertheless，for those with highly suspected cervical cancer who have experienced known symptoms such as postmenopausal vaginal bleeding and have no pathological evidence in con－ventional three-step examinations，auxiliary MRI can visually and accurately reveal the size and invasion range of cervical cancer，which will contribute to making a definitive diagnosis and formulating an appropriate treatment strategy.