Patterns of neoplastic spread in colorectal cancer: Implications for surveillance CT studies Journal Article


Authors: Giess, C. S.; Schwartz, L. H.; Bach, A. M.; Gollub, M. J.; Panicek, D. M.
Article Title: Patterns of neoplastic spread in colorectal cancer: Implications for surveillance CT studies
Abstract: OBJECTIVE. This study was performed to assess patterns of metastatic disease shown on CT in colorectal cancer and to determine the diagnostic yield of routine pelvic CT in follow-up surveillance. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Pathology records and 3073 CT studies of 1119 patients with colorectal cancer were retrospectively reviewed. Primary tumor site, site of abdominal or pelvic metastases (liver, peritoneum, lymph nodes, local recurrence, or other), and incidental nonmetastatic pelvic disease were recorded. The superior iliac crests were considered the border between the abdomen (above) and the pelvis (below). RESULTS. Metastatic disease was present in 34% (1040/3073) of all CT studies: 33% (1007/3073) in the abdomen and 7% (227/3073) in the pelvis. Six percent (194/3073) of studies had metastases in both abdomen and pelvis. Forty-one percent (404/991) of studies showing abdominal primary colonic tumors showed metastatic disease: 40% (400/991) in the abdomen and 8% (78/991) in the pelvis. Four studies (0.4%; 4/991) in four different patients with abdominal primary colon tumors had isolated pelvic metastases; three of these were primary tumors of the cecum. Thirty-one percent (636/2082) of studies showing pelvic primary colonic tumors showed metastatic disease: 29% (607/2082) in the abdomen and 7% (149/2082) in the pelvis. Twenty-nine studies (1%; 29/2082) in 26 patients with pelvic primary colonic tumors revealed isolated pelvic metastases. CONCLUSION. In colorectal tumors arising within the abdomen, pelvic metastases are uncommon and isolated pelvic metastases are rare. Routine pelvic CT performed in the follow-up surveillance of patients with colorectal cancer with primary tumors arising in the abdominal portion of the colon has a low diagnostic yield.
Keywords: retrospective studies; major clinical study; colorectal cancer; metastasis; computer assisted tomography; cancer screening; tomography, x-ray computed; diagnostic imaging; colorectal neoplasms; pelvic neoplasms; abdominal neoplasms; humans; human; priority journal; article
Journal Title: American Journal of Roentgenology
Volume: 170
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0361-803X
Publisher: American Roentgen Ray Society  
Date Published: 1998-04-01
Start Page: 987
End Page: 991
Language: English
PUBMED: 9530048
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI: 10.2214/ajr.170.4.9530048
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 12 December 2016 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. David M Panicek
    135 Panicek
  2. Marc J Gollub
    209 Gollub
  3. Ariadne Bach
    59 Bach
  4. Catherine S Giess
    11 Giess
  5. Lawrence H Schwartz
    312 Schwartz