Cervical cancer remains a significant global health issue, being the fourth leading cause of death in women, despite the introduction of screening programs. Around 30% of patients present with advanced disease at diagnosis, and 30-50% of those treated experience relapse within five years. For locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC), accurate staging and treatment planning are crucial. The 2018 FIGO staging system classifies stages IB3-IVA as LACC, where treatment options range from neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, external beam radiotherapy, brachytherapy, hysterectomy, or a combination of these.

MRI plays a vital role in diagnosing, staging, and following up after treatment for cervical cancer. It helps in assessing the response to treatment, identifying residual tumors that might require salvage surgery, and detecting recurrences during post-treatment surveillance.

Following chemoradiotherapy (CRT), successful tumor response is typically indicated by a reduction in tumor size and changes in signal intensity on MRI. However, post-treatment changes such as edema and necrosis can complicate interpretation, as these effects may persist for months, potentially leading to false positives on imaging.