Cervical cancer: The diagnostic value of rectosonography for the judgement of parametrial invasion in regard of inflammatory stromal reaction

Rectal palpation, computed tomography (CT) and rectosonography (Bernaschek et al. 1986; Yuhara et al. 1987; Yamamoto & Kitao 1989) have been reported to be valuable for staging of parametrial invasion in patients with cervical carcinoma. We have compared the results of rectosonography and rectal palpation with the results of histological examination of the surgical specimens to check the validity of rectosonography. In cases of cervical carcinoma inflammatory infiltration of the stroma at the tumor invasion front represents an excellent prognostic parameter (Reinthaller et al. 1991). Since inflammatory infiltration of the stroma might interfere with the results of rectosonographical examination, we compared sensitivity and specifity of rectosonography in relation to stroma1 reaction.