The value of CT in the diagnosis of recurrent carcinoma of the cervix.

The results of computed tomography (CT) and other imaging techniques performed on 70 patients who were investigated for suspected recurrent carcinoma of the cervix are reported. Recurrent disease was present in 39 patients. In 29, there was local recurrence with or without distant metastases and there was distant recurrence only in 10. Computed tomography correctly assessed the presence of local recurrent disease in 85% of patients. Six equivocal, two false positive and two false negative CT examinations in the assessment of local recurrence were due either to difficulty in differentiating recurrent disease from changes following radiotherapy, or to the failure of CT to detect small areas of local recurrent disease. Ultrasound and lymphangiography each detected recurrence in one patient which was missed by CT, but this was the most reliable technique for the detection of both local and distant recurrent disease.