RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the application of multi- slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in the preoperative staging of gastric carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty- nine cases of gastric carcinoma confirmed by endoscopic biopsy (including 49 men and 40 women) were collected between June 2004 and March 2006. MSCT was performed one week before operation and all the images were read by two radiologists. The results were compared with the postoperative pathologic findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In general, the accuracy of MSCT in determining the T stage of gastric carcinoma was 68.7% based on axial and MPR images. The accuracy of diagnosis for T (1) was 90.0% (9/10), for T(2) was 82.8% (24/29), for T(3) was 69.6% (16/23) and for T(4) was 52.4% (11/21) respectively. The accuracy for MSCT in determining the N stage of gastric carcinoma was 51.8% in general. The accuracy of diagnosis for N(0) was 44.0% (11/25), for N(1) was 72.0% (18/25), for N(2) was 46.4% (13/28) and for N(3) was 40.0% (2/5) respectively. The accuracy of diagnosis for distant metastasis (M(1)) was 90% (9/10).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The accuracy of MSCT in preoperative staging of gastric carcinoma is relatively high. It is easily accepted by the patients as a practical and noninvasive technique of gastric carcinoma staging.</p>