To assess the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in staging advanced carcinoma of the cervix, 18 staging evaluations were performed in 16 patients with locally advanced (FIGO stage IB-IVA) cervical carcinoma. CT staging results were compared with the results of clinical staging and postoperative staging. CT was accurate in 12/18 (66%) cases, clinical staging was accurate in 10/18 (55%) cases and clinical staging with cystoscopy was accurate in 14/18 (78%) cases. CT staging to detect microscopic pelvic sidewall involvement and bladder involvement when there was no contrast material in the bladder. In the detection of paraaortic lymph node involvement by tumor, there were 12 true-negative, 4 true-positive, 1 false-positive and 1 false-negative study (sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 92%). CT evidently is equal in accuracy to other clinical staging techniques and offers the advantage of visualizing the tumor, which allows for more accurate determination of radiation portals.