Utilization of diagnostic studies in the pretreatment evaluation of invasive cervical cancer in the United States: results of intergroup protocol ACRIN 6651/GOG 183

Abstract

Purpose: To review the current utilization of diagnostic tests prescribed by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) clinical staging guidelines in the pretreatment work-up of invasive cervical cancer, and to compare the data with those of previous patterns of care studies.

Patients and methods: This interdisciplinary American College of Radiology Imaging Network/Gynecologic Oncology Group prospective clinical trial was conducted between March 1, 2000, and November 11, 2002. Twenty-five participating institutions, all from the United States, enrolled a total of 208 patients. Only patients scheduled for surgery with biopsy-confirmed cervical cancer of clinical FIGO stage IB or higher were eligible. The patterns of care data analysis was based on 197 patients who met all inclusion criteria. The conventional FIGO-recommended tests used for pre-enrollment FIGO clinical stage classification were at the discretion of the treating physician; overall frequency of use was tabulated for each test.

Results: Use of cystoscopy (8.1%) and sigmoidoscopy or proctoscopy (8.6%) was significantly lower than in 1988 to 1989 (P < .0001 in each instance). Intravenous urography was used in only 1% of patients as compared with 42% in 1988 to 1989 and 91% in 1983. No patient included in the data analysis had barium enema or lymphangiography. Only 26.9% of patients had examination under anesthesia for FIGO clinical staging.

Conclusion: There is a large discrepancy between the diagnostic tests recommended by FIGO and the actual tests used for cervical cancer staging, suggesting a need to reassess the relevance of the FIGO guidelines to current clinical practice in the United States.