BACKGROUND: Failure to detect metastasis to para‐aortic nodes in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer leads to suboptimal treatment. No previous studies have prospectively compared positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) with laparoscopic extraperitoneal staging in the evaluation of para‐aortic lymph nodes.METHODS: Sixty‐five patients were enrolled; 60 were available for analysis. Patients with stage IB2‐IVA cervical cancer without evidence of para‐aortic lymphadenopathy on preoperative CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent preoperative PET/CT. Laparoscopic extraperitoneal lymphadenectomy was performed from the common iliac vessels to the left renal vein.RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 48 years (range, 23‐84). The median operative time was 140 minutes (range, 89‐252). The median blood loss was 22.5 mL (range, 5‐150). The median length of hospital stay was 1 day (range, 0‐4). The median number of lymph nodes retrieved was 11 (range, 1‐39). Fourteen (23%) patients had histopathologically positive para‐aortic nodes. Of the 26 patients with negative pelvic and para‐aortic nodes on PET/CT, 3 (12%) had histopathologically positive para‐aortic nodes. Of the 27 patients with positive pelvic but negative para‐aortic nodes on PET/CT, 6 (22%) had histopathologically positive para‐aortic nodes. The sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT in detecting positive para‐aortic nodes when nodes were negative on CT or MRI were 36% and 96%, respectively. Eleven (18.3%) patients had a treatment modification based on surgical findings.CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic extraperitoneal para‐aortic lymphadenectomy is safe and feasible. Surgical staging of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer should be considered before planned radiation and chemotherapy. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.