CT evaluation of colon carcinoma: Emphasis on distant lymph node invasion and liver metastases

ABSTRACT

Even though the value of computed tomography (CT) used to detect the colon carcinoma with minimal invasion is limited, its usefulnes sin the evaluation of the extent of disease such as hepatic metastasis or distant lymph node invasion has been emphasized. To examine the role of CT in the evaluation of colon carcinoma, CT scans obtained during the past 2 years in 56 patients with surgically proven colon carcinoma were reviewed and the findings correlated with pathologic results. The sensitivity and accuracy of CT for pericolic fat infiltration were 86, 58 and 80% respectively. Those of regional node were 60, 83 and 75% and distant node 67, 100 and 95%. Liver metastases showed sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of 83, 98, 96% and peritoneal metastases 67, 94 and 89% respectively. CT detected local invasion with fair degree of accuracy but the true value of CT lie in the detection of distant invasions such as liver and distant lymph node metastases thereby leading to preclusion of unnecessary procedures and implementation of appropriate precedures.