Diagnostic imaging in the staging of gynecologic cancers

The prognosis in patients with gynecologic cancers depends not only on the stage but also on a wide spectrum of other findings. Cross-sectional imagin g modalities, including sonography, CT and MRI, have increasingly been used for optimal treatment planning in gynecologic cancers. Their staging crite ria are based on the well-established FIGO staging system. CT and MRI compe te with sonography,which plays a pivotal role in the evaluation of the fema le pelvis. This paper reviews the role of sonography, CT and MRI in the sta ging of gynecologic malignancies. It puts the emphasis on MRI, which has be en established as imaging modality of choice in the preoperative evaluation of cervical and endometrial cancer, and which seems slightly superior to C T in the staging of ovarian cancer.