How is cervical cancer staged?

  Squamous epithelial carcinoma is the most common type of cervical cancer, while adenocarcinoma is less common. The staging of cervical cancer is based on the FIGO revised in 1995. Stage 0 Carcinoma in situ (CIS): It refers to carcinoma of the cervical epithelium, in which the heterogeneous proliferating cells involve the entire epithelial layer of the mucosa of the uterine cervix, but the lesion is confined to the epithelial layer and does not break through the basement membrane, without interstitial infiltration. It is also called intraepithelial carcinoma. No statistics on the treatment effect of human invasive carcinoma are listed.  Stage I: the cancer is confined to the cervix (the cancer extends to the body of the uterus and is not considered in the staging).  Stage Ia: preclinical carcinoma of the cervix, i.e. no lesion is visible to the naked eye and can only be diagnosed microscopically, also known as early infiltration, microscopic early infiltrating carcinoma, early infiltration of carcinoma in situ, etc. The deepest interstitial infiltrate is 5 mm and the width is within 7 mm.  Stage Ia1 microfocal mesenchymal infiltrating carcinoma, i.e. microscopically seen as slight mesenchymal infiltration with infiltration depth <3mm and width <7mm. Stage Ia2 microscopically measurable microscopic carcinoma with infiltrating mesenchymal depth >3mm and ≤5mm under the basement membrane of epithelium or mesenchyme, whose horizontal direction of dissemination does not exceed 7mm. Stage Ib Lesions beyond stage Ia2, clinically visible or invisible lesions. Interstitial infiltration with tumor emboli in the vessels or lymphatics does not change the stage, but should be noted so that future judgment can be made as to whether it affects the outcome of treatment.  Stage Ib1 clinically visible lesions ≤ 4 cm in diameter.  Stage Ib2 Cancer lesions >4cm in diameter are clinically indicated.  Stage II Cancer beyond the cervix, vaginal infiltration not reaching the lower 1/3 and parametrial infiltration not reaching the pelvic wall.  Stage IIa The cancer involves mainly the vagina, without obvious parametrial infiltration.  Stage IIb Cancer infiltrates mainly the parametrium, without obvious vaginal infiltration.  Stage III Cancer beyond the cervix, vaginal infiltration has reached the lower third, parametrial infiltration has reached the pelvic wall, and hydronephrosis or non-functional kidney are included in stage III, except for hydronephrosis and renal function not caused by cancer.  Stage IIIa Cancer mainly involves the vagina and has reached the lower 1/3. Stage IIIb Cancer mainly infiltrates the parametrium and has reached the pelvic wall, or has hydronephrosis or non-functioning kidney.  Stage IV Cancer spreads beyond the true pelvis, or cancer infiltrates the bladder mucosa and rectal mucosa.  Stage IVa Cancer infiltrates bladder mucosa or rectal mucosa.  Stage IVb Cancer infiltrates beyond the true pelvis and has distant metastasis.