ABSTRACT
Resumen Se presenta el caso de una paciente con antecedentes de carcinoma urotelial de vejiga de alto grado con compromiso secundario ganglionar y óseo, la cual presentó cuadro de hematoquecia, tenesmo y dolor rectal un año después de su cirugía oncológica. La resonancia magnética de abdomen y pelvis, demos tró una lesión sólida rectal de 5 cm de longitud que estenosaba la luz y atravesaba el peritoneo, a 6 cm del margen anal. La anatomía patológica de dicha lesión, informó una metástasis urotelial a nivel del recto inferior en concordancia con el antecedente de la paciente. Este caso identifica una evolución atípica de carcinomas uroteliales (CU), destacando una ruta inusual de metástasis a distancia. Los CU pueden, en raras ocasiones, hacer metástasis rectales, generalmente en casos avanzados o recurrentes de la enfermedad. Al ser escasa la bibliografía disponible sobre dicho tema, cabe destacar la importancia de mantener un alto índice de sospecha en pacientes con antecedentes de carcinoma urotelial y síntomas urinarios/rectales (dolor y tenesmo rectal, dolor suprapúbico, incontinencia urinaria y fecal).
Abstract We present the case of a female patient with a history of high-grade urothelial carcinoma of the bladder with secondary lymph node and bone involvement, who presented with hematochezia, tenesmus and rectal pain one year after her oncological surgery. The abdomen and pelvis magnetic resonance image showed a 5 cm solid rectal lesion that stenosed the lumen and crossed the peritoneum, 6 cm away from the anal margin. The histology of this lesion reported an urothelial metastasis at the level of the lower rectum according to the patient's history. This case identifies an atypical evolution of urothelial carcinomas (UC), highlighting an unusual route of distant metastasis. UC can, on rare occasions, metastasize to the rectum, usually in advanced or recurrent cases of the disease. As the literature available on this topic is scarce, it is crucial to highlight the importance of maintaining high suspicion in patients with a history of urothelial carcinoma and urinary/rectal symptoms (rectal pain and urgency, suprapubic pain, urinary and fecal incontinence).
ABSTRACT
Introduction. Colorectal cancer is one of the most frequent cancers in the world and liver metastases are seen in up to 19% of patients with colorectal cancers. Detection of liver metastases is not only vital for sufficient treatment and survival, but also for a better estimation of prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of diffusion weighted MRI of the liver as part of a combined MR evaluation of patients with rectal cancers and compare it with the standard preoperative evaluation of the liver with CT. Methods. Consecutive patients diagnosed with rectal cancers were asked to participate in the study. Preoperative CT and diffusion weighted MR (DWMR) were compared to contrast enhanced laparoscopic ultrasound (CELUS). Results. A total of 35 patients were included, 15 patients in Group-1 having the standard CT evaluation of the liver and 20 patients in Group-2 having the standard CT evaluation of the liver and DWMR of the liver. Compared with CELUS, the per-patient sensitivity/specificity was 50/100% for CT, and for DWMR: 100/94% and 100/100% for Reader 1 and 2, respectively. The per-lesion sensitivity of CT and DWMR were 17% and 89%, respectively compared with CELUS. Furthermore, one patient had non-resectable metastases after DWMR despite being diagnosed with resectable metastases after CT. Another patient was diagnosed with multiple liver metastases during CELUS, despite a negative CT-scan. Discussion. DWMR is feasible for preoperative evaluation of liver metastases. The current standard preoperative evaluation with CT-scan results in disadvantages like missed metastases and futile operations. We recommend that patients with rectal cancer, who are scheduled for MR of the rectum, should have a DWMR of the liver performed at the same time.
