On PET-CT performed as part of FIGO 2018 staging, a woman with a 6 cm cervical carcinoma has enlarged left external iliac nodes and a single 1.8 cm para-aortic node, both showing FDG uptake. Biopsy of the para-aortic node confirms metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. Which stage is assigned?
- A IIIB
- B IIIC2p ✓
- C IIIC1r
- D IVB
Correct answer: B. IIIC2p
Explanation
FIGO 2018 assigns pelvic nodal metastasis to IIIC1 and para-aortic nodal metastasis to IIIC2. The suffix r denotes radiological detection and p denotes pathological confirmation; here biopsy proves the para-aortic node, giving IIIC2p. Distant visceral metastases or peritoneal disease define IVB, while isolated para-aortic nodes do not upstage to IVB under the revised system.
Reference: Novak's Gynecology, 16th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
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