Evaluation of benign and malignant rectal lesions with CT colonography and endoscopic correlation.
Colorectal carcinoma is a significant cause of death from cancer in the United States, and early detection and treatment are critical. Computed tomographic (CT) colonography is a noninvasive, rapidly evolving technique that is a potential alternative to conventional colonoscopy for colorectal cancer screening. Rectal disease (eg, polyps, cancerous lesions, extramucosal lesions, inflammatory disease) can be especially challenging to diagnose with CT colonography because of several factors that can simulate or obscure the disease (eg, over- or underdistention, rectal tube, stool, artifacts). Familiarity with the spectrum of rectal diseases and with the potential pitfalls and technical limitations of CT colonography will help minimize interpretative and perceptual errors.
Silva
Alvin C
AC
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 13400 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. silva.alvin@mayo.edu
Vens
Eric A
EA
Hara
Amy K
AK
Fletcher
Joel G
JG
Fidler
Jeff L
JL
Johnson
C Daniel
CD
D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011351:Proctoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic