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

I

Tumour confined to cervix

 IA

Microscopic invasive tumour

No evidence of tumour

 IA1

Stromal invasion ≤3 mm, width ≤7 mm

 IA2

Stromal invasion >3 mm but ≤5 mm, width ≤7 mm

 IB

Clinically visible invasive tumour or pre-clinical tumours greater than Stage IA

Intermediate SI mass against low SI of the background cervical stroma

 IB1

Tumour ≤4 cm

 IB2

Tumour >4 cm

II

Invasion beyond uterus but not to pelvic side wall or lower third of vagina

 IIA

No parametrial invasion, upper two-thirds of vagina

Loss of the normal low SI of the vaginal fornix or wall, usually contiguous with the primary cervical tumour mass

 IIA1

Tumour ≤4 cm

 IIA2

Tumour >4 cm

 IIB

Parametrial invasion

Breach of the low SI ring of the cervical stroma

III

Tumour extends to pelvic sidewall and/or involves the lowest third of vagina

 IIIA

Tumour extends to lower third of vagina, not to pelvic sidewall

Loss of the normal low SI of the vaginal wall in the lower third of vagina

 IIIB

Extension to pelvic sidewall and/or hydronephrosis or non-functioning kidney

Presence of tumour within 3 mm of internal obturator, levator ani and pyriformis muscles or the iliac vessels. Additional signs are increased SI and/or retraction of pelvic muscles, presence of hydronephrosis due to ureteral obstruction at the level of the primary tumour

IV

Tumour extends outside true pelvis or invades bladder or rectal mucosa

 IVA

Invasion of bladder or rectal mucosa

Tumour nodules protruding into the bladder/rectal lumen.

 IVB

Distant metastasis

Tumour involving organs outside the true pelvis, includes the para-aortic and inguinal nodes