Imaging of endometrial and cervical cancer

Abstract

In this article we review the ever increasing role of imaging in endometrial and cervical cancer. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as the most widely used technique in the management of women with gynaecological cancer. In endometrial cancer, MRI is reliable in identifying myometrial and cervical invasion and extra-uterine disease, thereby informing preoperative surgical planning. In cervical cancer, MRI plays a crucial role in distinguishing early from advanced disease, thereby stratifying patients for surgery and chemoradiation. MRI is also valuable in assessing proximal extension of cervical tumours in young women with early stage disease for feasibility of fertility preserving surgery. In both cancers, imaging is used for diagnosing nodal metastases, detection of recurrence, and dealing with complications of both the disease and treatment.

Introduction

Although both cervical and endometrial cancers arise in the uterus, the tumours have quite different aetiologies and clinical features. Diagnosis is initially made at histology in both cancers. Imaging is an important adjuvant to clinical and surgical evaluation. Transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) for endometrial cancer, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) have a significant impact in the management of patients with endometrial and cervical cancer. The role of imaging includes tumour staging, treatment planning, assessing treatment response, and detecting treatment complications and recurrent disease. For imaging to be used effectively, however, it is important for the radiologist to understand not only the treatment options with which the multidisciplinary team and the patient are faced but also the diagnostic performance, advantages and limitations of each of these imaging modalities.

The most widely used staging classification is that of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). In this article, we review the recent changes to the FIGO staging classification and discuss the increasing reliance on imaging in the management of patients with endometrial and cervical cancer with a particular emphasis on the role of MRI in primary staging and detecting disease recurrence.

Endometrial cancer

Carcinoma of the endometrium is the most prevalent gynaecological malignancy in Western Europe and North America and its incidence is climbing due to increased life expectancy and rises in obesity [1, 2]. Endometrial carcinoma primarily presents in the 6th-7th decades, with only very few women diagnosed under the age of 35 [3]. Despite being a relatively common malignancy, it is not a leading cause of cancer death, with a 10-year survival rate of 75%, partly because 75-80% of women present at an early stage with postmenopausal bleeding [3].

Several recognised risk factors are associated with endometrial cancer. Any condition which results in prolonged unopposed oestrogen stimulation of the endometrial lining can predispose to endometrial neoplasia. Oestrogen excess can be exogenous (unopposed oestrogen therapy) or endogenous, such as in patients with ovarian malfunction, those with oestrogen secreting tumours or in obese patients [4]. Long-term use of tamoxifen citrate and nulliparity are also associated with increased risk [5, 6].

Following presentation, TVUS is widely accepted as the initial imaging modality. Careful assessment of endometrial thickness, with an abnormal threshold of 5 mm or greater, provides a sensitivity of higher than 95% [7]. If the endometrium is thickened or bleeding continues, sampling of the endometrial lining is undertaken. Histopathological diagnosis and tumour grade can either be obtained as an outpatient, using a pipelle biopsy sampling technique, or by hysteroscopic assessment with dilatation and curettage in theatre.

A recent study by Todo et al. [8], which reviewed 671 patients with endometrial carcinoma, more than 90% were found to have adenocarcinomas. Of these, 52% were Grade 1 tumours (well differentiated), 25% were Grade 2 tumours (moderately differentiated) and 15% were Grade 3 (undifferentiated) carcinomas. The remaining 8% were associated with a poorer prognosis and included clear cell carcinoma and serous adenocarcinoma [8]. The prognosis of endometrial carcinoma depends on the age of the patient, histological tumour grade, cell type, tumour stage and lymph-node status [9, 10]. New data from the study by Todo and co-workers supports these findings where the presence of para-aortic nodal metastasis has the most impact on prognosis (hazard ratio of 3.07 compared with a hazard ratio of 1.81 for age over 56 years and a hazard ratio of 1.87 for Grade 3 or non-endometriod histology) [8].

Table 1 [11] summarises the risk factors for pelvic and para-aortic lymph-node metastases which depend on the depth of myometrial and cervical invasion, tumour grade and tumour occupying more than one-third of the endometrial cavity. The depth of myometrial and cervical stromal invasion are therefore key prognostic factors due to an association with nodal metastases. Creasman et al. [10] demonstrated in Grade 3 tumours that there was a 9% incidence of nodal metastases if only superficial myometrial invasion was present (involving the inner third), but this figure increased to 34% when deep myometrial invasion was present (involving the outer third). The depth of myometrial invasion is also a strong prognostic factor regarding the 5-year survival rate. In patients with no myometrial invasion and low-grade histology, the 5-year survival rate is 95%, compared with 42% in patients with tumour invasion extending into the outer half of the myometrium and high grade histology [1].

Table 1 Risk groups for pelvic and para-aortic nodal disease in endometrial cancer

Staging and treatment

Clinical staging of endometrial carcinoma is inaccurate and often underestimates the extent of disease [12]. As a result, FIGO staging of endometrial cancer was reclassified in 1988 as a surgico-pathological staging system [13] and was again revised in 2009 (Table 2) [14, 15]. Therefore full FIGO staging requires a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), bilateral salpingo-ophrectomy (BSO), peritoneal washings, assessment and sampling of pelvic and para-aortic lymph-nodes. This surgico-pathological staging system is independent of radiological staging or assessment.

Table 2 FIGO staging of endometrial carcinoma and corresponding MR findings (revised 2009)

Conventional treatment of endometrial cancer performed in most patients is TAH and BSO with peritoneal washings and this is the current FIGO staging method for full staging of the tumour. Lymphadenectomy remains a component of the surgical-pathological staging of endometrial cancer. However, as recently stated by Dowdy et al. [16], ‘the lack of consensus for primary surgical treatment for endometrial cancer, the most common gynaecological malignancy, is deplorable’. The disadvantage of lymphadenectomy is that it carries a significant complication rate of 17-19%, requires increased anaesthetic and operating times and needs the expertise of a specialised oncologic surgeon [17, 18]. The rate of pelvic lymph node involvement in Stage I endometrial cancer (i.e. confined to the corpus) is low at approximately 10% [19]. Although nodal metastases have been dectected in up to 29% of patients in intermediate to high risk categories in a recent series [8]. Patient selection for primary lymphadenectomy at the time of hysterectomy is, therefore, presently controversial in oncological gynaecology. In some centres, the majority of patients undergo surgical lymphadenectomy [8]. Conversely, lymphadenectomy is not widely practiced in the UK and is variable in the US, where there is a much lower rate of lymphadenectomy by gynaecologists (26%) and specialist gynaecologic oncologists (83%) [20, 21].

In many centres, surgical planning is dependent upon prognostic risk factors. Patients at low risk of extra-uterine spread (Grade 1 or 2 histology, new FIGO Stage <1B) may be treated with TAH and BSO alone. In these cases, formal lymphadenectomy is not always performed, however any suspicious appearing nodes on imaging or at surgery will be resected. This policy is supported by findings of two recently published trials. A randomised clinical trial assessing lymphadenectomy versus no lymphadenectomy in Stage I endometrial carcinoma demonstrated no improvement in disease free or overall survival following lymphadenectomy [22]. Similarly, the ASTEC trial demonstrated no benefit in overall survival or recurrence-free survival with pelvic lymphadenectomy in women with Stage I endometrial cancer [19]. In patients with high risk disease (Grade >2, new FIGO Stage >1A), full surgical staging, including lymphadenectomy is recommended. The validity of these trial results has been questioned in view of relatively short duration of follow-up and limited extent of lymphadenectomy (nine or fewer nodes were removed in 35% of patients).

A large retrospective study from Japan has challenged the findings presented by Kitchener et al. [19] and Benedetti et al. [8, 22]. Toda et al. [8] reported a significant improvement in overall, disease-specific and recurrence-free survival in patients with intermediate or high risk disease who undergo complete pelvic and para-aortic nodal dissection compared with pelvic dissection alone. Despite these published findings, there is still a range of practice concerning resection of lymph nodes and this procedure remains part of the formal staging of disease.

Controversy still surrounds the use of adjuvant therapy in endometrial carcinoma and there is no consensus [23]. Studies have shown in patients with low or intermediate risk disease that external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) can reduce the risk of pelvic relapse, but it has no impact on overall survival [24]. However, EBRT is associated with a 10% survival advantage in patients with high risk disease [25]. Vaginal brachytherapy (VBT) is associated with reduced toxic effects and a recently published randomised trial has demonstrated that VBT is as effective as EBRT for the prevention of vaginal recurrence following surgery in high- to intermediate-risk patients and therefore should become the standard of care [26] Chemotherapy can be used in patients with aggressive histological subtypes, either in the context of a clinical trial (PORTEC 3) or as a palliative measure [23].

Imaging

The ability to select patients for lymphadenectomy prior to surgery may, therefore, be of value. Imaging can assist in preoperative assessment and surgical planning by predicting the depth of myometrial invasion, cervical stromal involvement, distant spread and lymph-node involvement. Preoperative knowledge of these factors is important, as patients with disease greater than FIGO Stage 1A may benefit from lymphadenectomy, but the number of unnecessary lymph-node dissections can also be reduced in low risk patients by showing that none of these factors are present [27].

Histological diagnosis before staging is essential, as imaging cannot accurately differentiate endometrial carcinoma from polyps or hyperplasia [28].

TVUS has been used to evaluate the depth of myometrial and cervical invasion, but this is operator-dependant and, thus, the reported accuracies vary between 77-91% [29]. As there is relatively little contrast difference between tumour and myometrium, CT is not sensitive or specific enough to assess the depth of myometrial or cervical involvement. For detection of deep myometrial invasion, the sensitivity and specificity are 83% and 42%, respectively [30], with an overall staging accuracy of between 58-76% [31]. CT performs as well as MRI in identifying extrauterine spread and identifying nodal metastases [32].

MRI is considered the most accurate imaging modality for preoperative assessment of endometrial carcinoma due to its excellent soft-tissue contrast resolution. Overall accuracies have been reported at 83-92% [33, 34]. MRI is probably of greatest value in evaluating tumours that may be at risk of extrauterine spread, where a tumour mass is seen at ultrasound and histology is Grade 2 or 3. The MRI findings corresponding to the FIGO Stage of endometrial cancer are summarised in Table 2.

MRI technique and tumour appearance

Patients are asked to fast for 4-6 h and antiperistaltic agents may be used to limit peristaltic artefact from the bowel [35]. High-resolution T2-weighted images are obtained in the sagittal plane and oblique axial plane (small field of view), perpendicular to the endometrial cavity, to enable assessment of depth of myometrial and cervical invasion. Following injection of contrast medium, fat-saturated T1-weighted images, ideally in the sagittal and axial oblique plane, have been shown to significantly improve pretest probability of myometrial invasion in all grades of adenocarcinoma [36]. Dynamic post-contrast T1-weighted images are also helpful in distinguishing between the enhancement of tumour, subendometrial mucosal layer and myometrium. Optimal tumour to myometrial contrast usually occurs at 50–120 s after injection of contrast medium, with myometrium enhancing more than the invading tumour [36]. Wide field-of-view images of the upper abdomen are obtained to look for para-aortic lymph nodes, metastases and any complications, such as hydronephrosis [37].

The normal zonal uterine anatomy is clearly delineated on T2-weighted imaging, where the normal endometrium is of high signal intensity, with a low signal intensity junctional zone and intermediate signal intensity of the myometrium. Endometrial carcinoma is usually isointense to the myometrium on T1-weighted sequences and of lower signal intensity than the endometrial lining on the T2- weighted sequences. On T1-weighted post-contrast images, the tumour typically enhances less than normal myometrium, and on dynamic contrast enhancement enhances more slowly than myometrium.

Pitfalls in staging of endometrial carcinoma on MRI include blood in the endometrial cavity due to recent dilatation and curettage or tumour haemorrhage, extreme thinning of the myometrium, poor natural contrast between the tumour and myometrium, adenomyosis and leiomyomata [11, 38].

Preoperative staging on MRI

The criteria used in FIGO staging system may be applied to preoperative MRI. Stage 0 has been removed recently from the FIGO staging classification [14].

Stage I

Stage I tumours are confined to the uterine corpus, comprising over 80% of cases. In Stage IA disease, there is typically focal or diffuse thickening of the endometrium by tissue that has lower signal intensity than normal endometrium. Myometrial invasion (of less than 50% for Stage IA) may be diagnosed when the intermediate signal of the tumour is seen breeching the junctional zone and extending into the myometrium on T2-weighted and post-contrast images (Figs. 1 and 2). Subtle irregularity may be seen between the margin of the tumour and the junctional zone in cases of early invasion. In cases where the junctional zone is not visible or indistinct, a smooth interface between the endometrium and myometrium is considered to represent an intact myometrium.

Fig. 1a, b

Endometrial cancer FIGO 1A. a Sagittal and b oblique axial T2-weighted MRI. There is intermediate T2 signal intensity soft tissue within the endometrium (arrows). No breach of the junctional zone is visible and the interface between the tumour and junctional zone is well defined

Fig. 2a, b

Endometrial cancer FIGO IA. a Sagittal T2-weighted and b para-sagittal post-contrast images. There is a large volume of tumour within the endometrial cavity. There is invasion of the myometrium, extending to <50% of the myometrial thickness (arrow). The post-contrast image demonstrates the typical bright enhancement of the myometrium with intermediate enhancement of the tumour

When the tumour disrupts the junctional zone and is seen to extend more than 50% into the deep myometrium, it is classed as Stage IB disease (Fig. 3); however, an outer stripe of normal myometrial tissue remains intact [28, 39]. The degree of invasion should be assessed on both T2-weighted images in the sagittal and oblique axial views as well as post-contrast images.

Fig. 3a, b

Endometrial cancer FIGO IB. a The tumour (arrow) is poorly defined on the T2-weighted image, in this case. Depth of myometrial invasion is difficult to assess. b Dynamic post contrast image clearly defines the brightly enhancing myometrium from the tumour. The depth of myometrial invasion is greater than 50% (arrows)

Stage II

Stage II disease is direct invasion of the cervical stroma (Figs. 4 and 5). Identification is important as 50–67% of patients with cervical stromal invasion have lymph-node involvement or other sites of extrauterine disease [40, 41]. Normal cervical stroma is hypointense on T2-weighted imaging and endometrial carcinoma is intermediate to hyperintense. The assessment of cervical involvement may be improved on late dynamic post-contrast T1-weighted imaging, which can help distinguish between true invasion and a protruding polypoid tumour into the endocervical canal [42]. In Stage II disease, tumour extends into and widens the endocervical canal and internal os with disruption of the fibrocervical stroma. The overall accuracy of MRI in predicting cervical involvement is reported as 90-92%, with sensitivities of 75-80% and specificities of 94-96% [43–45].

Fig. 4

Endometrial cancer Stage II. Sagittal T2-weighted image demonstrates tumour in the endometrial cavity (black arrow) which extends into the endocervical canal and invades the upper cervical stroma (white arrow) at the internal os

Fig. 5a, b

Endometrial cancer extending into the endocervical canal. a Sagittal and b oblique axial T2-weighted images demonstrate an intermediate signal intensity mass (black arrow). This lesion was thought to be confined to the endocervical canal but on histology there was minimal invasion of tumour into the cervical stroma (FIGO II). In retrospect, there is some thinning of the low signal intensity cervical stroma (white arrow). Minimal invasion of the stroma is difficult to report confidently and remains a potential pitfall

Stage III

Stage III is disease outside the uterus but not beyond the true pelvis. In Stage IIIA disease, invasion of the uterine serosa or adnexae is identified (Fig. 6). On the T2-weighted images, tumour may be seen to extend beyond the outer margin of the uterus and, on the contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images, there is loss of the normal rim of brightly enhancing myometrium. Tumour deposits in the ovaries, even in the absence of serosal invasion may also be identified. In the revised FIGO staging, positive peritoneal cytology from peritoneal washings alone does not constitute Stage IIIA disease.

Fig. 6a–d

Endometrial cancer Stage IIIA. a Sagittal and b para-sagittal T2-weighted images demonstrate the tumour within the endometrial cavity (white arrow). To the left of midline, there is a tumour deposit lying along the peritoneal reflection between the uterus and bladder (black arrow). c Oblique axial T2-weighted image demonstrates the peritoneal mass (black arrow) as well as a mass in the right ovary (white ovary). d Axial T1-weighted image following administration of gadolinium demonstrates enhancement of the right ovarian deposit

In Stage IIIB disease, there is tumour involvement of the vagina or parametria, either by direct extension or as metastatic disease. On T2-weighted images, intermediate signal intensity tumour invading through the low signal intensity vaginal wall is seen.

Regional nodal involvement indicates Stage IIIC disease; IIIC1 indicates involvement of pelvic nodes (Fig. 7), whereas Stage IIIC2 indicates positive para-aortic nodes, with or without pelvic nodal involvement. Lymph-nodes are hypointense on T1-weighted images and intermediate intensity on T2-weighted imaging [46]. Nodal metastases correspond to drainage sites of involved portions of the uterus. The middle and lower aspects drain to the parametrium, paracervical and obturator nodes. The upper corpus and fundus drain to common iliac and para-aortic lymph-nodes. The diagnosis of nodal involvement on CT and MRI uses size criteria with a cut off of 1 cm minimum axial diameter. This results in a low sensitivity for detection of lymph-node metastases and diagnosis on MRI remains unsatisfactory [44, 46].

Fig. 7a, b

Endometrial cancer FIGO IIIC1. a Sagittal T2-weighted image demonstrates a tumour within the endometrial cavity (black arrow), which extends into the endocervical canal and invades the cervical stroma (white arrow). b Oblique axial T2-weighted images demonstrates an enlarged right external iliac lymph node (arrow)

Stage IV

Direct infiltration of the bladder or bowel mucosa is Stage IVA disease (Fig. 8). This is seen as loss of the low signal intensity wall of the bladder or rectum on T2-weighted images and tumour nodules in the mucosa of the invaded organ [42]. In Stage IVB disease, there are distant metastatic deposits or peritoneal deposits with or without inguinal lymph-node involvement. Peritoneal deposits may be outlined by ascites and are best seen on delayed contrast-enhanced images, but deposits of less than 1 cm may be difficult to identify on any imaging modality [42]. Distant spread to lung, liver and bones is rare at presentation and usually occurs haematogenously, the lung being the most common site involved.

Fig. 8a, b

Endometrial cancer FIGO IVA. a Sagittal and b oblique axial T2-weighted images demonstrate a large tumour replacing and distorting the uterus. There is breach of the uterine serosa and invasion of the adjacent sigmoid colon (black arrow) and pelvic sidewall (white arrow)

FDG-PET/CT

The primary role for FDG-PET/CT is for detection of extrauterine disease. A study comparing MRI with FDG-PET/CT demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the detection of lymph-node metastases in patients with endometrial carcinoma [47]. There was a high negative predictive value for nodal involvement (94-96%) on both imaging modalities. FGD-PET/CT did, however, detect distant metastatic disease with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 94% [24, 47]. FDG-PET/CT is not generally considered sensitive enough to replace lymph-node dissection.

Recurrent disease

Endometrial carcinoma has a low rate of recurrence of 4-16% [8, 24]. Factors that predict relapse include advanced stage at presentation, high-grade histology, age over 60 years and lymphovascualar invasion [24]. Following primary surgery, 64% of recurrences occur within 2 years and 87% within 3 years, the commonest sites being lymph nodes and vaginal vault (Fig. 9) [48]. Less frequently, it may manifest as peritoneal carcinomatosis (Fig. 10), or distant metastases in liver, lung or bones. Routine follow-up has a poor yield in detecting recurrence in the asymptomatic patient, but identification of those patients with an increased risk of recurrence and the likely time scale could direct an appropriate strategy for follow-up imaging.

Fig. 9

Recurrent endometrial cancer. Sagittal T2-weighted image demonstrates a intermediate T2 signal intensity recurrent mass at the vaginal vault (arrow)

Fig. 10

Recurrent endometrial cancer. Sagittal T2-weighted image demonstrates serosal recurrence at the rectosigmoid colon (arrow)

CT performs well in the detection of recurrent pelvic and distant disease, with an overall accuracy of 92% [49]. MRI has also been advocated for this indication to evaluate surgical resectability. FDG-PET/CT has been shown to be helpful in the assessment of patients with suspected recurrence [50]. In one study, FDG-PET/CT detected unsuspected distant metastases in nine out of 26 patients which significantly altered the treatment choices [50]. A recently published study compared PET integrated with low-dose non-enhanced CT to PET integrated with contrast-enhanced CT [51]. It concluded that PET with contrast-enhanced CT is an accurate imaging modality for the assessment of uterine cancer recurrence and the use of contrast reduces the frequency of equivocal interpretations [51].

Cervical cancer

Cervix cancer remains one of the commonest cancers in women in developing countries, including Central and South America, parts of Africa, and South Central Asia [3]. During the last several decades, cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates have declined substantially in Western countries with the introduction of screening programmes, which detect pre-invasive disease on cervical smears [52]. However, the survival rates for patients who present with invasive cervical cancer have not improved over the same period. Younger women tend to present with earlier stages of the disease, with older women being diagnosed with later stages of the disease.

The most important aetiological factor is exposure to human papilloma virus (HPV), types 16 and 18. The introduction of the vaccine against HPV 16 and 18 is likely to have a major impact on disease prevention [53]. Other risk factors include smoking, lower socio-economic class and the oral contraceptive pill. The commonest histological type is squamous cell carcinoma, which accounts for approximately two thirds of all cases and arises at the external os. Adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinomas account for 10-25% of cases [3]. Most patients with invasive cervical cancer are asymptomatic at its early phase, and patients with advanced disease typically present with abnormal vaginal bleeding.

FIGO staging and treatment

The classic staging of cervical cancer uses the FIGO classification. The FIGO staging system has undergone a number of revisions over the past few decades, most recently in 2009 [14, 54] (Table 3). Unlike the staging of other gynaecological cancers, the FIGO staging of cervical cancer is entirely clinical and does not rely on surgico-pathological findings. This is mainly to achieve a staging system that is universally available and as cervical cancer is more prevalent in developing countries, only clinical methods are universally available. The staging procedure includes examination of the cervix under anaesthesia, colposcopy, biopsy, cystoscopy and sigmoidoscopy, although the last two are optional [14, 54]. Conventional radiographic techniques included are chest X-ray, barium enema and intravenous urography. In the revised FIGO staging, incorporation of cross-sectional imaging (CT and MRI) is encouraged where available [14, 54].

Table 3 FIGO clinical staging of cervical carcinoma and corresponding MRI findings (Revised 2009)

Clinical staging is inherently inaccurate in evaluating several important staging parameters, including assessment of parametrial and pelvic sidewall invasion, accurate measurement of tumour size (particularly in endocervical or infiltrating tumours), and evaluation of lymph node metastases. Clinical staging errors occur in up to 25% of Stage I and Stage II disease; in 50-65% of Stage IIA to IIIB disease; and in 67% of Stage IVA disease [55, 56]. Overall, compared with surgery, clinical staging underestimates the stage in 25-67% of cases and overestimates in 2% [55].

Accurate pre-treatment evaluation is not only important for prognosis but also for determining appropriate mode of treatment. The key decision in determining the patients management is whether or not the disease extends into the parametrium. In general, extension into the parametrium excludes primary surgery. However with greater targeting of conformal radiotherapy and the efficacy of chemoradiation larger tumours are increasingly being treated primarily with chemoradiation even without parametrial extension.

Tumour staging on MRI

Over the past several years, the role of MRI in gynaecological oncology has evolved. Owing to its superior soft tissue delineation, MRI is now the most widely used imaging modality in initial staging of primary cervical cancer. It is important in monitoring response and detecting recurrence, demonstrating complications of the disease itself and of treatment, determining feasibility of uterus-preserving surgery, and planning radiotherapy. Furthermore, it has also been demonstrated to be cost-effective by limiting or eliminating the need for further diagnostic tests or surgical procedures [57, 58].

The FIGO staging system can be readily applied to MRI appearances (Table 3).

Stage I

Stage IA (microinvasive) tumours usually show no visible disease on T2-weigthed images. The shape of the cervix maybe distorted due to diagnostic cone biopsy. Stage IB tumours appear as hyperintense or intermediate signal intensity mass relative to the low signal intensity of the cervical stroma on T2-weighted images. In young patients, in whom the cervix may have an intermediate signal intensity, delineation of the tumour can be challenging. Tumour of 4 cm or less is staged as IB1 (Fig. 11) and tumour greater than 4 cm is IB2 (Fig. 12). Size is an important determinant of patient management, as many centres offer chemoradiation for bulky tumours in place of surgery, despite an absence of parametrial spread.

Fig. 11a, b

Endophytic cervical cancer Stage IB1. a Sagittal T2-weighted image demonstrates an intermediate signal intensity mass within the endocervical canal (arrow). b Oblique axial T2-weighted image perpendicular to endocervical canal demonstrates tumour surrounded by an intact ring of cervical stroma (arrow)

Fig. 12a, b

Exophytic cervical cancer Stage IB2. a Sagittal T2-weighted image showing a exophytic tumour (T) greater than 4 cm arising from the posterior lip of the cervix. b Oblique axial T2-weighted image showing that although the tumour has breeched the cervical stromal ring (asterisk) it is still surrounded by the vaginal wall (arrows)

Clinical examination is poor at estimating tumour size, especially when the tumour primarily occurs in the endocervix. MRI has been shown to be highly accurate in the assessement of tumour size, within 5 mm of the surgical size in 70-90% of cases [59], with an overall accuracy of 93% [60]. In a recent retrospective study of 150 surgically staged patients carried out in our own institution, the mean difference in tumour size between MRI and histology was –0.9 mm, with 95% limits of agreement between -12.6 to +13 mm. In tumours greater than 10 mm, mean difference was 0.3 mm and limits of agreement were -7.5 to +7.9 mm [61]. This has important implications for delineation of the gross tumour volume for radiotherapy and for assessing the feasibility of uterus-preserving surgery.

Stage II

In Stage IIA, tumour infiltrates the upper two-thirds of the vagina without parametrial invasion. On MRI there is thickening and loss of the normal low signal intensity vaginal wall, in contiguity with the tumour mass (Fig. 13). A common source of confusion are large exophytic tumours that distend the vagina and are misinterpreted to represent vaginal involvement. Compared with clinical examination, MRI is highly sensitive (86-93%) in the depiction of vaginal infiltration [60]. FIGO now divides Stage II into IIA and IIB as the prognosis of large primary tumours (>4 cm) and vaginal infiltration has a worse prognosis than if the primary tumour is less than 4 cm.

Fig. 13

Cervical cancer Stage IIA2. Sagittal T2-weighted image showing a ‘barrel-shaped’ cervical tumour (T) that extends into the upper anterior vagina (white arrow). The normal posterior vagina has a low signal intensity (black arrow)

Parametrial invasion indicates Stage IIB disease. The radiological sign for parametrial invasion is breach of the low signal intensity ring of cervical stroma, best demonstrated on oblique axial high resolution images (Fig. 14). Additional features include a spiculated tumour-parametrium interface, soft tissue extension into the parametria and along the cardinal or uterosacral ligaments, encasement of the periuterine vessels; and in some cases the cervix may be pulled over to the side with parametrial invasion [62].

Fig. 14a, b

Barrel-shaped cervical cancer Stage IIB. a Sagittal T2-weighted image demonstrate a large tumour (T) which diffusely infiltrates the whole cervix circumferentially. b Oblique axial T2-weighted image demonstrates disruption of the low signal cervical stroma ring (short arrow) and shows the tumour extending into the right parametrium (long arrow)

A common pitfall is the presence of a bulky exophytic tumour arising from the vaginal portion of the cervix. In this situation, disruption of the cervical stromal ring does not necessarily indicate parametrial invasion because the tumour may still be separated from the parametrium by the vaginal fornix (Fig. 12).

The accuracy for detection of parametrial invasion on MRI ranges from 88 to 97%, sensitivity ranges 44-100%, and specificity 80-97% [59, 61, 63–66]. Preservation of the low signal intensity ring virtually excludes parametrial invasion with a negative predictive value of 94-100% [61, 62, 64]. However, the positive predictive value of disruption of the stromal ring is lower (82-86%) [67, 68] as it can be difficult to differentiate peritumoural oedema from parametrial invasion, particularly in large tumours. It is the ability to rule out parametrial invasion on MRI with a high negative predictive value, which is of greatest value clinically as it confidently identifies patients suitable for radical surgery.

Stage III

In Stage IIIA, tumour extends down to the lower third of the vaginal wall (Fig. 15). When tumour extends to the pelvic sidewall or causes hydronephrosis, it is classified as Stage IIIB (Fig. 16). Pelvic sidewall involvement is defined as tumour within 3 mm of the obturator internus, levator ani, and pyriformis muscles or the iliac vessels [69].

Fig. 15

Cervical cancer Stage IIIA. Sagittal T2-weighted image showing a cervical tumour (T) that extends into the lower third of the vagina (arrow). The division between the upper and lower two-thirds of the vagina is approximately at the level of insertion of the urethra into the bladder base (asterisk)

Fig. 16

Cervical cancer Stage IIIB. Oblique axial T2-weighted image demonstrates tumour invading the parametrium bilaterally (white arrows) and the left ureter (black arrow) causing ureteral obstruction

Stage IV

In Stage IVA, the tumour invades the bladder (Fig. 17) or rectal mucosa (Fig. 18). Due to the relative ‘bare area’ of bladder posteriorly below the level of the peritoneal reflection, bladder invasion is more common than infiltration of the rectal wall as a deep peritoneal reflection and rectovaginal septum are interposed. Rectal invasion usually occurs via the uterosacral ligaments [70]. Contiguous extension of tumour from the cervix to the wall of the bladder or rectum, with loss of the intervening fat plane, may indicate serosal involvement. Focal or diffuse disruption of the normal low signal intensity muscle wall, resulting in a nodular or irregular appearance, suggests muscle invasion of the bladder or rectum. Mucosal invasion is seen as overt masses protruding into the lumen. Bullous oedema of the bladder is indicative of a nonspecific mucosal reaction to impaired perfusion, and raises the suspicion of bladder wall invasion but is not diagnostic of mucosal invasion.

Fig. 17

Cervical cancer Stage IVA with bladder invasion. Sagittal T2-weighted image demonstrates a large tumour (T) in the cervix which invades the full width of the posterior bladder wall

Fig. 18a, b

Cervical cancer Stage IVA with rectal invasion. a Sagittal and b oblique axial T2-weighted images demonstrate a large tumour (white arrow) which extends through the fat plane between the cervix and rectum. The rectum and mesorectum are extensively involved (black arrows)

The reported sensitivity of MRI in the evaluation of bladder or rectal invasion is 71-100%, and the specificity is 88-91% [58, 60, 71]. If a low threshold for reporting bladder and rectal invasion is adopted, MRI has been shown to have a very high negative predictive value of 100% [58], thereby negating the need for invasive cystoscopic or endoscopic staging.

Stage IVB indicates distant metastatic disease outside the true pelvis. Although pelvic node metastases do not change the FIGO Stage, para-aortic or inguinal metastases are classified as Stage IVB (Fig. 19) and indicate a poorer prognosis.

Fig. 19a, b

Cervical cancer Stage IVB. a Axial oblique T2-weighted image showing a cervical tumour (T) extending into the parametrium (white arrows), uterosacral ligament (asterisk) and posterior bladder wall (black arrow). b Axial contrast-enhanced CT in the same patient, showing an enlarged left para-aortic lymph node (arrow)

Performance of MRI and CT

The overall staging accuracy of MRI ranges from 77 to 90% [59, 60, 63, 71–73]. In single institution studies, MRI performs better than CT in the depiction of parametrial invasion and overall staging accuracy [57, 71, 72, 74]. A systematic review of 57 single institution studies also showed that MRI was more accurate than CT for overall staging of cervical cancer [71]. The sensitivity of MRI in detecting parametrial invasion was 74% compared with 55% for CT, and for bladder and rectal invasion the sensitivities were 75% and 71% respectively, higher compared with CT [71]. The prospective multi-centre study undertaken by the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN) and the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) compared MRI and CT in the patients with early invasive cervical cancer. As the probability of extra-cervical disease was low, the study showed that contrast enhanced multi-detector CT was equivalent to MRI for overall preoperative staging. However, MRI performed significantly better for visualisation of the primary tumour and detection of parametrial invasion. In addition, CT has much greater inter-observer variability when compared with MRI [75]. MRI, therefore, has great advantages in assessing the feasibility for trachelectomy or for planning modern conformal radiotherapy.

Importance of proximal extension

Young women with early Stage I disease who wish to preserve fertility can be offered fertility preserving surgery or trachelectomy. In this procedure, the tumour-bearing cervix is removed and the uterine body is re-anastomsed to the vagina with insertion of a cerclage suture to maintain isthmic competency during pregnancy [76]. An important criterion for surgery is that the proximal end of the tumour should be 1 cm or more distal to the internal os to permit tumour-free re-anastomosis. This cannot be reliably determined clinically by the examining gynaecologist, and MRI has been shown to be a reliable method of predicting involvement of the internal os by tumour, with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 96% [77], making MRI essential when considering trachelectomy.

Proximal extension of tumour is also an important feature in predicting prognosis in patients with higher stage disease. In a study of 70 patients by Narayan et al. [78], the presence of proximal extension beyond the internal os and myometrial invasion as seen on MRI increased the probability of nodal metastases to 75% versus 11% in patients without proximal extension. Nodal metastases were considered to be involved with tumour if they demonstrated positive tracer uptake on FDG-PET scans. The presence of nodal metastases had a significant negative association with disease-specific and disease-free survival [78].

Nodal metastases

Within the pelvis, cervical cancer spreads first to parametrial nodes, then to obturator, internal and external iliac nodes. In more advanced disease, common iliac and para-aortic nodes may be involved. In a recent 25-centre ACRIN/GOG study, lymphatic metastases were found in 55 of 161 women (34%) with early invasive cervical cancer, verified by lymphadenectomy. Of these 55 women, 62% had metastases restricted to the low pelvis (defined as not involving the common iliac or above); 13% had common iliac metastases; and 9% had para-aortic metastases [79]. Although not incorporated in the FIGO staging system, presence of lymph node metastases has significant prognostic and treatment consequences. The 5-year survival for node positive patients is 39-54% compared with 67-92% in patients without nodal involvement [80, 81]. In early stage tumour, involvement of any node is important as it excludes curative surgery changing the treatment to either chemoradiotherapy alone, or debulking surgery and neo-adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. In higher stage tumours, detection of para-aortic nodes is important for planning the extent of the radiation field.

On cross-sectional imaging, size is the main criterion used to diagnose nodal metastasis and the most widely quoted threshold above which a node is considered malignant is 10 mm in short-axis diameter. Other features of malignancy include a round shape (for nodes with a short axis diameter of between 8 and 10 mm) [82], central necrosis, soft tissue of the same signal intensity of the tumour within the node and extracapsular extension of tumour beyond the nodal capsule [83]. The presence of visible necrosis within the node, seen as pockets of high T2 signal intensity, has a positive predictive value of 100% for nodal involvement [84]. Conversely, a long thin shape and a fatty hilum are in favour of a benign node, even though enlarged.

MRI and CT have comparable overall accuracies in detecting nodal metastases [84]. Using standard size criteria, sensitivities on MRI are low, ranging from 29 to 86% [46, 59, 66, 85]. CT and MRI are unable to detect micrometastases in normal-sized nodes, and to differentiate reactive enlargement from malignant infiltration. The performance of MRI is greatly improved by use of lymph-node-specific MRI contrast agents, such as ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (USPIOs). These are intravenously administered to the patient at the time of the staging MRI. The contrast agent is transported via the interstitial space to lymph nodes, where they are taken up by normal macrophages. The presence of USPIOs within normal, macrophage-laden nodes results in loss of signal on T2-weighted sequences. In lymph nodes replaced by tumour deposits there is no loss of signal. The use of USPIOs improves the sensitivity of MRI (using standard size criteria of nodes) from 29% to 82-93%, whilst maintaining a high specificity at 97% [46].

Studies into the diagnostic performance of FDG-PET/CT show varying results depending on the stage of the primary tumour. FDG-PET/CT has a sensitivity of 75-100% and specificity of 87-100% in advanced disease (FIGO IIB to IVB) [67, 86–88]. In these patients FDG-PET also improves initial staging by demonstrating unexpected disease beyond the pelvis or retroperitoneum, such as supraclavicular nodal metastases [89], altering management in a significant number of patients [90]. In contrast, the value of FDG-PET in early-stage disease (FIGO I to IIA) is questionable. Many studies have reported low sensitivities for the detection of nodal metastases, ranging from 25-73% [91–94]. Chao et al. [90] concluded that PET/CT has a limited role in staging for patients with early-stage disease and should not replace lymphadenectomy for the detection of lymph node metastases. Overall, FDG-PET/CT is increasingly incorporated into cervical cancer management and a strong correlation has been found between pretreatment FDG-PET/CT lymph node status and patient disease-free survival [95].

Recurrent disease

Cervical cancer recurrence is defined as local tumour regrowth or development of distant metastases at least 6 months after the primary lesion has regressed. Residual disease is that which is evident within 6 months of primary treatment. Approximately 30% of women with cervical cancer die of residual or recurrent disease after primary treatment [96]. Sixty percent of recurrences occur within the first 2 years following initial treatment, and 90% by 5 years [97]. The identification of recurrent disease is important, as salvage treatment has a 5-year survival rate of 46-52% compared with 5% in untreated disease [98]. The majority of recurrences occur in the central pelvis. A retrospective study in our own centre, evaluated MRI appearances of recurrent cervical cancer in 49 patients, of whom 70.4% recurred within 1 year following treatment. In patients receiving radiotherapy, 67% of recurrences were in the cervix, whilst 87% of post-surgical recurrences were in the vaginal vault. Only 13% of patients had recurrent disease outside the pelvis without evidence of pelvic disease [99].

Just as primary staging dictates initial management, location of recurrent disease, initial therapy and clinical condition of the patient will determine subsequent treatment. Local recurrent disease in the vaginal cuff (Fig. 20) or pelvic side walls (Fig. 21) after surgery may be treated with chemoradiotherapy. In patients who have already received chemoradiotherapy, central recurrence limited to the cervix and/or vagina may be treated with exenteration. Pelvic exenteration is reserved for young women with low co-morbidity and a central pelvic recurrence without peritoneal disease, vessel encasement, involvement of the pelvic sidewall or nodal metastases [100]. In the past CT was invaluable in predicting the feasibility of exenteration, but this has now been superceded by PET/CT. Distant metastatic disease may be treated with chemotherapy.

Fig. 20

Recurrent cervical cancer. Sagittal T2-weighted image showing a recurrent mass at the vaginal vault (arrow). This patient had localised central recurrence only and would therefore be suitable for pelvic exenteration

Fig. 21

Recurrent cervical cancer. Axial oblique T2-weighted image demonstrating a recurrent right pelvic side-wall mass (arrow). This encases the external iliac artery and vein and extends to the bony cortex. This would not be suitable for pelvic exenteration

Due to its inherent contrast resolution MRI is superior in distinguishing radiation fibrosis from active disease and is of greater value than CT in identifying recurrent disease. On MRI, recurrent disease appears as a mass of intermediate to high signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences; established radiotherapy fibrosis usually is of low signal intensity on T2-weighted sequences. However, differentiation can be difficult particularly in the first 6 months after radiotherapy when areas of high signal intensity may exist due to inflammation and oedema. Where morphological imaging is suboptimal in this differentiation, we have found that functional imaging aids diagnosis. These include dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, diffusion weighted imaging and FDG-PET/CT.

Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with analysis of signal intensity-time curves has been shown to improve the ability of MRI to detect tumour recurrence following radiotherapy. In a study by Kinkel et al. [101], comparing dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI with standard T2-weighted sequences, specificity and accuracy increased from 22% and 68% to 67% and 83% respectively. The optimal time to demonstrate tumour enhancement was between 45 and 90 s [101]. In patients with suspected recurrence clinically, FDG-PET/CT has been reported to be accurate in confirming the presence or absence of recurrent disease with sensitivities of 90.3−92.7% and specificities of 81−100% [102, 103]. This is a higher sensitivity than CT and MRI alone for detecting recurrent disease.

The delineation of fistulae

MRI is preferable to CT in patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment to distinguish complications and effects of treatment from recurrent disease. Fistulae can occur as a result of primary or recurrent tumour or as consequence of surgery or radiotherapy and result in significant morbidity [104]. Vaginal fistulas are typically either vesicovaginal or enterovaginal, and are the most common type of fistula in patients with cervical cancer [105]. The appearance of a fistula on MRI depends on whether it is filled with fluid, air, or a combination of the two. On T2-weighted images, a fistula is typically seen as a high signal intensity fluid-filled communication (Fig. 22). An air-filled tract produces low signal intensity on MRI. The sagittal plane is preferred for the detection of vaginal fistulas as it allows optimal depiction of disruption of the posterior bladder wall in a vesicovaginal fistula and discontinuity of the posterior vaginal or anterior rectal wall in a rectovaginal fistula.

Fig. 22

Cervical cancer and rectovaginal fistulation. Sagittal T2-weighted image demonstrates a large tumour which replaces the entire cervix and extends into the myometrium and upto the internal os. There is a fistula between the vagina and the anterior rectum containing fluid and air (arrow)

In a prospective study performed at our institution, 15 patients with clinical symptoms suggestive of a vaginal fistula were evaluated. MRI correctly indentified nine of the ten fistulae confirmed at surgery [106] and correctly differentiated between fistulae secondary to recurrence and those secondary to radiotherapy effects. Based on our results, we concluded that MRI is accurate in demonstrating the course, extent and complexity of vaginal fistulae, and in revealing associated active or recurrent disease.

Follow-up after trachelectomy

MRI is routinely used for surveillance to detect early recurrence in women who have undergone trachelectomy [107]. Recurrence rates following trachelectomy are low, with a figure of 4% quoted [108]. It is important to be aware of normal MRI postoperative appearances and to be able to discriminate between normal appearances (Fig. 23) and recurrent disease (Fig. 24) to avoid misinterpretation. In work carried out in our institution, three important appearances were observed after trachelectomy that should be recognised as normal and not recurrent disease [107]. In 56% of patients, there was a posterior ‘puckering’ of the vaginal wall, which the authors termed a ‘neo-fornix’ (Fig. 23). In 6%, diffuse thickening of the vaginal wall was present up to 1 year after surgery and slowly resolved without treatment. Thirdly, 4% of patients had slowly resolving haematomas in the vaginal wall. Suture artefacts also occur from uterovaginal anastomotic cerclage sutures used during the procedure. To date, these have not limited the diagnostic ability of MRI. Pelvic lymphocoeles and concurrent benign disease (endometriosis and adenomyosis) were also common findings.

Fig. 23

Post-trachelectomy appearance. Sagittal T2-weighted image following fertility preserving surgery for early stage cervical cancer. The cervix has been removed with a cuff of vaginal fornix and parametrium. The lower uterine segment has been anastomsed onto the upper vagina (white arrow). Soft tissue posterior to the anastomosis is normal vaginal wall and represents a ‘neo-fornix’ (black arrow)

Fig. 24

Recurrent cervical cancer. Sagittal T2-weighted image showing a recurrent mass (arrow) at the utero-vaginal anastomosis in a patient who has had a previous trachelectomy

Planning radiotherapy

Over the past few decades, advances in radiotherapy equipment have resulted in high-precision radiotherapy techniques, such as conformal and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The increased conformality of modern radiotherapy design necessitates improved means of delineating the tumour (gross tumour volume) for treatment. CT is the current standard imaging modality for radiotherapy planning but has inferior soft tissue contrast to MRI. The gross tumour volume on CT has been shown to be substantially larger than that measured on MRI [75]. It is crucial, therefore, that CT is correlated with MRI when defining the gross tumour volume. The co-registration of MRI and CT images with radiotherapy planning systems is the subject of ongoing research.

Conclusion

Imaging has assumed increasing importance in the management of patients with gynaecological cancer in recent years. This trend reflects a desire to obtain accurate staging and early disease detection to provide optimal treatment and minimise morbidity and mortality. MRI, although not officially incorporated in the FIGO staging system, is widely accepted as the most reliable imaging modality for staging and follow-up. In endometrial cancer, MRI is accurate in assessing the depth of myometrial extension and cervical extension, allowing for selective lymph node sampling or lymphadenectomy. In cervical cancer, MRI is important in local staging and in assessing proximal extension of tumours in young women for feasibility of fertility preserving surgery. In summary, the role of MRI is now well established, and future protocols may also incorporate functional imaging techniques that integrate both morphological and biological information which offer promise as early indicators of treatment response.