# Transvaginal Ultrasound Staging of Cervical Cancer

- Link: https://sifsof.com/clinical-apps/transvaginal-ultrasound-staging-of-cervical-cancer/
- Published: 2021-10-02T11:14:11+00:00
- Author: Sales

Cervical cancer is a common gynecologic malignancy worldwide. It is the fourth 
for both incidence and mortality. For cervical cancer, imaging and pathology assessments
are incorporated in the revised 2018 Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
staging system. Uses of imaging techniques for the pre-treatment work-up of cervical
cancer have been increasing. Among imaging techniques for the evaluation of cervical
cancer, ultrasound is cheaper, faster and widely available than other imaging techniques
such as computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Advanced techniques in ultrasound, such as color Doppler, have improved the clinical
application of ultrasound in cervical cancer. Ultrasound may provide highly accurate
information on detecting tumor presence and evaluating local tumor extent if performed
by ultrasound-trained gynecologists; the experience of readers is also critical 
for correct pretreatment staging and assessment of response to treatment. Sonographic
images could be useful to predict response of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy,
chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer. 

For cervical cancer, imaging and pathology assessments are incorporated in the revised
2018 Fédération internationale de gynécologie et d’obstétrique (FIGO) staging system.
It is according to[ available resources](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7974902/#B7)
for the use of the imaging modality to provide information on local or systemic 
spread, tumor size and nodal status. It was reported in a recent study that inclusion
of imaging and surgical pathologic findings resulted in upward stage migration and
mostly related to nodal and distant metastasis. Furthermore, incorporating the results
of advanced imaging and surgical staging improved stratification of prognostic factors
for relating survival outcomes compared to the FIGO 2009 staging system for most
cases by a cohort of 1282 patients. Different sonographic appearances of adenocarcinoma(
AC) and squamous cell cancer (SCC) of the cervix was reported. The researchers demonstrated
isoechoic or hyperechoic (relative to the surrounding stroma) in AC and hypoechoic
in SCC [using transvaginal ultrasound](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7974902/#B9)(
TVUS) . This could be helpful in the clinical evaluation of cervical tumors.

Another study at the Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Institute,
Milan, Italy has shown that  2D and 3D ultrasound showed similar moderate agreement
with MRI. It’s proved that  2D and 3D ultrasound examinations are less costly and
more readily available than MRI and should be considered in the preoperative work-
up for cervical cancer.

Furthermore, Transvaginal Color Doppler ultrasound in cervical cancer allows[ non-invasive assessment of tumor angiogenesis](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7974902/#B33).
In Epstein et al study, Color Doppler signals were found in all cases of AC and 
90% (18/20) of SCC cases. There was few detectable vascularization found in normal
cervical tissue. Microvessel density correlated with survival for stage IB cervical
cancer [was assessed](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7974902/#B34).
Color Doppler findings associated with risk factors was also reported by a[ study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7974902/#B35)
involving neoangiogenesis measured in early cervical cancer cases.

![Transvaginal ultrasound image gray scale and color Doppler shows a longitudinal
section of the uterus with cervical cancer of the female aged 68-year-old. (A) Gray
scale shows cervical mass (B) color Doppler shows abundant blood flow in cervical
mass (C) color Doppler (D) color Doppler Blood flow.](https://lh6.googleusercontent.
com/jw4_cLYjgHvsby_mqWSoSXtiWJTF72AyU-khfKZ96fKFDwz07kO_hWIi-zCo37qeZQIMsmdi9Mc1StyLQ0QdjCjwpfXaIOQCxXREjhf9OHbw7lVX_qBP1tFx6f87ap19d_79o8Oc
=s0)

Angiogenic parameters, including subjective assessment of pulsatility index (PI)
and the amount of vessels within the tumor (scanty-moderate or abundant), were evaluated
by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound for 27 early stage cervical cancer patients.
The risk factors (depth stromal invasion, parametrial and vaginal margin involvement,
positive lymph nodes, lymph-vascular space involvement) were recorded. Tumors with
abundant vascularization were significantly associated with parametrial involvement,
lymph-vascular space involvement, pelvic lymph node metastases etc. Postoperative
treatment was significantly more prevalent in patients with profuse vascularization.

For this reason we highly recommend the Color Doppler Transvaginal USB Ultrasound
Scanner 4-9 MHz [SIFULTRAS-1.3 ](https://sifsof.com/product/color-transvaginal-ultrasound-scanner-sifultras-1-3/)
for the imaging and staging of cervical cancer.. It has a touch screen gesture and
physical buttons for gain control, wavelet filter for Image processing, pseudo color,
image smoothing, frame correlation and Accelerometer, P/L sensor, E-compass, and
gyroscope. It measures depth, length and area. Equipped with a 5M pixels camera 
for telemedicine, Stereo FM radio and a 5000mAh battery, up to 3 hours of ultrasound
continuous scans. This transvaginal ultrasound is also  used by doctors to examine
other female reproductive organs. This includes the uterus, urinary bladder, fallopian
tubes, ovaries and vagina.

Cervical ultrasound imaging is performed by a qualified gynecologist whose is trained
in ultrasound imaging*

Reference: [Agreement of two-dimensional and three-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound with magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of parametrial infiltration in cervical cancer](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25091827/)

[Updated applications of Ultrasound in Uterine Cervical Cancer](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7974902/)

 * ![Color Transvaginal Ultrasound Scanner 6'' Touch Screen, 4-9 MHz, SIFULTRAS-
   1.3 main](https://sifsof.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/MU2-02-1-300x300.jpg)
 * Color Transvaginal Ultrasound Scanner 6” Touch Screen, 4-9 MHz, SIFULTRAS-1.3
