A patient with a clinically visible cervical cancer has PET-CT showing a single enlarged left common iliac lymph node suspicious for metastasis. Pelvic lymph nodes are normal and there are no para-aortic nodes above the bifurcation. Under FIGO 2018 staging this is designated:

• A Stage IIIC2p
• B Stage IIIC1r ✓
• C Stage IIIC2r
• D Stage IVBr

Explanation

In FIGO 2018, Stage IIIC denotes lymph node spread: IIIC1 for pelvic nodal metastasis and IIIC2 for para-aortic nodal metastasis. Common iliac nodes are counted among pelvic nodes, so this case is IIIC1. The suffix r indicates radiologic evidence and p indicates pathologic confirmation, so IIIC1r is correct. IIIC2 would require para-aortic involvement, and IVB demands distant organs outside these nodal basins, such as lung, bone or peritoneum.

Reference: Berek & Hacker's Gynecologic Oncology, 6th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.