Objective: to investigate whether morphologic characteristics determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can discriminate between bulky cervical tumours with a favourable or worse prognosis. Materials and Methods: MRI examinations were performed in 24 patients with cervical cancer Stage ≥ 1B2. The ratio between tumour width and length (barrel index: BI) and the presence of intrauterine fluid retention were related to survival in a multivariate regression analysis. Results: BI and intracavital fluid were predictors of survival, independent from tumour diameter and other known important factors for survival. A cut-off value of 1.40 for the BI proved to be the best prognostic factor with respect to recurrence and death: the hazard ratios of BI > 1.40 as compared to BI ≤ 1.40 were 18.9 (95% CI 2.8 to 125.6) for recurrent disease and 16.4 (95% CI 2.9 to 93.9) for death by cervical cancer. The hazard ratios of intracavital fluid retention were 73.6 (95% CI 5.3 to 1,016.4) and 48.1 (95% CI 4.7 to 491.6) for recurrence and death, respectively. Conclusion: The morphologic characteristic BI and the presence or absence of intracavital fluid as determined by MRI might have predictive value for survival in patients with bulky cervical tumours.