Objective   To investigate the value of MRI after ultrasonic gel vagina filling in the staging of early-stage cervical cancer.

  Methods   A total of 158 patients with cervical cancer who underwent MRI examination after their cervical cancer diagnosis was confirmed by cervical biopsy were prospectively enrolled. Routine MRI examination was performed first, followed by another MRI examination after vaginal filling with ultrasound gel. Two physicians used a double-blind method to determine the staging of cervical cancer based on the MRI images before and after vaginal filling of ultrasound gel. Results of the postoperative pathology analysis were used as the golden standard. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value for stage Ⅱa cases of the two examinations of the same patient were compared, and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in identifying stage Ⅱa cervical cancer were compared.

  Results   Two physicians used the double blind method to determine the staging of cervical cancer based on conventional MRI images, achieving moderate consistency (κ=0.680). However, for the staging of cervical cancer with MRI images after vaginal filling of ultrasound gel, the two physicians achieved highly consistent results (κ=0.932). Regarding identifying stage Ⅱa cervical cancer, the positive predictive value of conventional MRI was 66.67%, the negative predictive value was 76.74%, and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 70.59%, 73.33% and 72.15%, respectively. The positive predictive value of MRI after vaginal filling of ultrasound gel was 90.91%, the negative predictive value was 91.3%, and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 88.24%, 93.33% and 91.14%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the two methods were compared and the difference was statistical significant (P<0.05).

  Conclusion   MRI examination after ultrasound gel vaginal filling has better diagnostic value for identifying stage Ⅱa cervical cancer. The method is simple and easy to do, and can be used in routine MRI examination of cervical cancer.