Imaging techniques (sonography, magnetic-resonance imaging) in assessment of neoadjuvant chemotherapy effcacy of stage IIb-IIIb locally advanced uterine cervical cancer

The immediate efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was assessed for 58 patients with stage IIB-IIIB uterine cervical cancer using ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were administered with the following combination of cytostatic drugs: paclitaxel or paclitaxel plus cisplatin or carboplatin. After completion of the first course of chemotherapy, tumor regression was achieved in 34.5 % of cases and stable disease was observed in 65.5 % of cases. After two courses of chemotherapy, 48.3 % of patients had achieved tumor regression and 51.7 % of patients had stable disease. Reduction in the uterine cervical mass by 40-50 % after two treatment courses indicated the tumor response to chemotherapy. Reduction in the tumor mass by less than 30 % was assessed as a low efficacy of chemotherapy (p