USEFULNESS OF CT COLONOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH OCCLUSIVE COLORECTAL CANCER BEFORE METALLIC STENT PLACEMENT: A SINGLE ENTER EXPERIENCE

Abstract

Up to 15% of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) present with large bowel obstruction. Currently, computed tomography colonography (CTC) is regarded as a promising technique for complete evaluation of the proximal colon and simultaneous assessment of extraluminal status. Aim of this retrospective, observational study is to evaluate the feasibility of using CTC for preoperative examination of the proximal colon before metallic stgent placement in patients with colon obstruction caused by CRC. Sixteen patients who demonstrated colonic obstruction caused by CRC, underwent CTC immediately after incomplete colonoscopy. Per-patient sensitivity of CTC for lesion 5 mm larger in diameter in the colon proximal to the stent was 100% (95% CI: 0,4385-1). Per-patients specificity for lesions 5 mm and larger in the proximal colon was 92,3% (95% CI: 6669-0,9863). CTC did not generate any false diagnosis of synchronous cancer. false positive findings at CTC did not result in a change in surgical plan for asny patients. Although the small number of patient of our study, our data show that CTC is a safe and useful method for preoperative examination of the proximal colon before metallic stent placement in patients with acute colon obstruction caused by CRC.