ABSTRACT
Cervical cancer is an excellent example of a disease in which the death rate declined after screening programs were put in place to detect early-stage disease (e.g. Pap smears). Unfortunately not all women are screened and cervical cancer detected at a more advanced stage carries with it a substantial risk of death, commonly due to metastatic disease. Whereas surgery or local radiation treatment may be sufficient for treatment of early-stage cervical cancer, more advanced disease requires more extensive radiation treatment and often chemotherapy. Historically, the initial staging of cervical cancer was largely based on physical examination, however, imaging is increasingly key to major therapeutic decisions. Metastasis commonly occurs via lymphatic spread. The metastases require more aggressive treatment than more limited disease.
