Background: Perineural invasion (PNI) is the process of neoplastic invasion of nerves and has attracted attention as a new prognostic factor for cancer.We aimed to evaluate the incidence and significance of PNI in cervical cancer.Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients with cervical cancer (stages ⅠA2-ⅡB) who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy from 2005 to 2012.Results: A total of 186 patients were included,10.22% (19/186) patients with PNI in the cervical stroma.Patients with PNI were more likely to have adverse histopathologic features,including FIGO stage,depth of invasion,parametrial invasion,lymphovascular space invasion and histological grade.Patients with PNI had shorter disease-free and overall survival (P=0.021 and P=0.039,respectively).On multivariate analysis using an adjusted hazard ratio,risk for recurrence included depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis.Risk factors for death included parametrial invasion and positive vaginal margin.However,PNI was not identified as an independent risk factor for either recurrence or death.Conclusion: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy may conceal the incidence of PNI.PNI represented a decreased disease-free and overall survival in patients with cervical cancer,and was independently associated with multiple high-risk factors,which informed management decisions regarding adjuvant therapy.