RESUMO
Objective To study the spiral CT features of gastrointestinal invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder. Methods Eight patients with surgical-pathologically documented gastrointestinal invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent plain and contrast-enhanced dual-phase scanning of the abdomen. Oral contrast medium (1.2% Angiografin) was used to fill the gastrointestinal tract before CT scanning. Results There were 2 cases of gastric antrum invasion, 6 duodenal invasion and 3 colonic invasion according to the surgical and pathological findings. Spiral CT correctly diagnosed 2 gastric invasion and 4 duodenal invasion based on several imaging features, like blurring of fat plane, focal wall thickening and luminal narrowing of involved gastrointestinal segments, and mass formation. However CT was unable to diagnose the 3 cases of hepatic flexure of colon invasion. Conclusion CT is valuable for diagnosing upper gastrointestinal tract invasion by carcinoma of gallbladder, yet the diagnosis of hepatic flexure of colon invasion is still difficult.
