Evaluation of contrast-enhanced helical hydro-CT in staging gastric cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the helical computed tomography (CT) characteristics of gastric cancer and evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced helical hydro-CT (HHCT) in staging gastric cancer.


METHODS
A total of 50 patients with gastric cancer were included in this study. The CT findings in them were retrospectively analyzed and correlated with pathologic findings at surgery. All patients were preoperatively imaged by plain and contrast-enhanced helical CT after orally ingesting 1,000-1,500 mL water. Peristalsis was minimized by intra-venous administration of spasmolytics.


RESULTS
The foci of gastric cancer became more prominent in all the 50 patients and showed strong enhancement in contrast-enhanced HHCT. The tumor was located at the gastric cardia in 14 cases, at the gastric fundus in 3 cases, at the gastric body in 8 cases, at the gastric antrum in 4 cases, at the gastric fundus and the body in 8 cases, at the gastric body and antrum in 11 cases, and at three segments of the stomach in 2 cases. The CT features of gastric cancer were focal or diffuse mural thickening, soft tissue mass, cancerous ulcer, stenosis of stomach, infiltration to adjacent tissues, lymph node and distant metastases. Strong contrast enhancement of the gastric wall was closely related to gastric cancer. The accuracy rate of contrast-enhanced HHCT in staging gastric cancer was 86% (43/50). The detection rate of lymph node metastases by CT was 60% (12/20).


CONCLUSIONS
Contrast-enhanced HHCT is a reliable method to diagnose and stage gastric cancer.
Wei
Wen-Zhou
WZ
Department of Radiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, Hubei Province, China. weiwenzhou8@msn.com
Yu
Jie-Ping
JP
Li
Jun
J
Liu
Chang-Sheng
CS
Zheng
Xiao-Hua
XH
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*
D003287:Contrast Media