title: Liver metastases of colorectal cancer: US, CT or MR?
abstract: In contrast to other extrahepatic malignancies many colorectal cancers can be cured even when there is metastatic spread to the liver. The diagnosis of liver metastases relies totally on imaging to decide which patients may be surgical candidates. The diagnostic value of ultrasound with contrast agents, multidetector CT and MR imaging with non-specific gadolinium chelates and liver-specific contrast agent is discussed. Nowadays MDCT is the mainstay of staging and follow-up of these patients, because it provides good coverage of the liver and the complete abdomen and the chest in one session. MR imaging has been shown to be superior to helical CT in the preoperative assessment of colorectal liver metastases. Large studies are needed to define the role of MDCT vs. MRI staging in patients referred for resection of liver metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 10-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. wolfgang.schima@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schima
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kulinna
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Langenberger
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ba-Ssalamah
mesh_terms: D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media