title: Radiology of colorectal cancer.
abstract: In the past 20 years, the radiology of colorectal cancer has evolved from the barium enema to advanced imaging modalities like phased array magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), virtual colonoscopy and positron emission tomography (PET). Nowadays, primary rectal cancers are preferably imaged with transrectal ultrasound or MRI, while barium enema is still the most often used technique for imaging of colonic cancers. Virtual colonoscopy is rapidly evolving and might considerably change the imaging of colorectal cancer in the near future. The use of virtual colonoscopy for screening purposes and imaging of the colon in occlusive cancer or incomplete colonoscopies is currently under evaluation. The main role of PET is in detecting tumour recurrences, both locally and distantly. Techniques to fuse cross-sectional anatomical (computer tomography (CT) and MRI) and functional (PET) images are being developed. Apart from diagnostic imaging, the radiologists has added image-guided minimally invasive treatments of colorectal liver metastases to their arsenal. The radio-frequency ablation technique is now widely available, and can be used during laparotomy or percutaneously in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.m.e.pijl@lumc.nl
authors.forename: M E J
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pijl
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chaoui
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Wahl
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van Oostayen
mesh_terms: D001466:Barium Sulfate; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000379:methods; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004733:Enema / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D014055:Tomography, Emission-Computed / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate