Role of imaging in cervical cancer diagnosis & staging, a retrospective descriptive study, from September of 2022 up to February of 2023 in Tikur-Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Date
2023-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background & Objectives: - In many developing countries cervical cancer is not only the most
frequently occurring cancer among middle-aged women, but also a leading cause of death, partly
due to poor access to medical care and the unavailability of routine screening in many of these
countries. Staging of cervical carcinoma is done clinically using International Federation of
Obstetrics and Gynecology (FIGO) guidelines. Computed tomography (CT) provides some
information about the overall size of the cervix, but is inferior to MRI in staging of the primary
cervical tumor due to its limited soft-tissue resolution. The study aims to determine the staging
and imaging of cervical cancer at first diagnosis. Despite advancements in imaging technology
and staging guidelines, cervical cancer diagnosis and staging remain a challenge. Accurate
imaging techniques and proper staging at diagnosis are essential for effective treatment planning
and improved outcomes.
Methods: - A quantitative retrospective descriptive statistic study was utilized to analyze the
data collected from a 115 medical records of newly diagnosed cervical cancer patients, their
disease stage at first diagnosis and the imaging modalities used in these patients in Tikur-
Anbessa Specialized Hospital form September 2022 up to February of 2023.
Results: - It was found that 61 [53%] of patients had advanced clinical staging (stage IIIA–IVB)
at the time of their cervical cancer confirmation, indicating a delayed diagnosis. Imaging results
showed that the advanced disease stage reached 85 [73.9%] based on CT scans, which performed
well in identifying distant disease spread. It was also found that there was a significant
discrepancy in disease staging between clinical and CT based disease staging, with 63 [54.8%]
disagreement rate
Interpretation and Conclusions: - The staggering prevalence of advanced-disease stage of
cervical cancer during initial presentation of patients has rendered surgical intervention futile and
has impeded the definitive disease staging objective of our study. This stark reality highlights the
pressing need for early detection and intervention strategies to improve the prognosis and
survival of our cervical cancer patients.
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Keywords
Cervical cancer, Imaging