Serum and cervical tissue copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) levels were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 65 women with cervical carcinoma and compared with levels in 30 healthy women. The patients mean serum Cu level (184.8 +/- 12.3 mugr/dl) was significantly higher than the control group (p < 0.05). However, in relation to the control group, the differences in Mg, Zn and Cu levels in cancerous tissues of patients with cervical carcinoma were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). There was also no significant difference between FIGO Stage I and IIA patients according to their serum and tissue concentrations of these trace elements. We concluded that serum and tissue copper, zinc and magnesium determinations have no use in cervical carcinoma management.