Cervical Cancer Staging: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: For screening and initial diagnosis of Cervical Cancer, see that page.

The FIGO staging system is clinical and is as follows, in brief:

Stage I - confined to uterus

Stage II - invades beyond uterus but not to pelvic wall or to the lower third of vagina

Stage III - Tumor extends to the pelvic wall, and/or involves the lower third of the vagina, and/or causes hydronephrosis or nonfunctioning kidney

Stage IV - extension beyond the true pelvis or has involved (biopsy proven) the bladder mucosa or rectal mucosa

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Cervical Cancer Staging are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Pre-Test Probability (Prevalence): %.	Post-Test Probability (Predictive Value): %.	Switch to display mode.
Note that calculating probabilities from more than one** finding is inherently inaccurate because findings are not independent. (For example, using two positive findings that share a common pathogenesis is likely to overestimate the true probability.)

Specific Findings
Finding	Result	Sensitivity	Specificity
[ + ] FIGO	+ 0 -	29%	99%
for stage >=IIB FIGO staging allows/involves: Palpation and inspection of the primary tumor Palpation of groin and supraclavicular lymph nodes Colposcopy Endocervical curettage Conization Hysteroscopy Cystoscopy Proctoscopy Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) Radiographic examination of the lungs and skeleton Study: J Clin Oncol. 2005 Dec 20;23(36):9329-37. PMID 16361632

Poorly Diagnostic Findings
Finding	Result	Sensitivity	Specificity
[ + ] Abdominal CT	+ 0 -	42%	82%
for Stage >= IIB Study: J Clin Oncol. 2005 Dec 20;23(36):9329-37. PMID 16361632
[ + ] Abdominal MRI	+ 0 -	53%	74%
for stage >= IIB Study: J Clin Oncol. 2005 Dec 20;23(36):9329-37. PMID 16361632