MRI prior to systematic lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.

5042 Background: Surgical evaluation of lymph node (LN) metastases has served as the gold standard for comparison of imaging modalities in locally advanced cervical cancers. It has been suggested that contemporary techniques such as MRI be relied upon for treatment planning and, specifically, extended-field radiation (EFRT) without pathologic confirmation. Methods: As part of a prospective, multicenter clinical trial conducted by ACRIN/GOG, patients (pts) with histologically confirmed, stage IB2, IIA≥4 cm, or IIB-IVA) cervical carcinoma underwent MRI prior to systematic pelvic (PLN) and abdominal (PALN) lymphadenectomy. LNs ≤ 1 cm were bisected while those > 1 cm were serially sectioned into 5 mm sections and a slide was made from each section. For positive & negative predictive values (PPV & NPV) of PALN on MRI, patients were grouped into those with MRI reports of both (+) PLN & PALN (G1), (+) PLN but (-)PALN (G2), and those with both (-) PLN & PALN (G3). Results: 33 pts are included in this analysis. St...