title: Evaluation of benign and malignant rectal lesions with CT colonography and endoscopic correlation.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Mayo Clinic, 13400 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. silva.alvin@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Alvin C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Eric A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Vens
authors.forename: Amy K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Joel G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Jeff L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fidler
authors.forename: C Daniel
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: 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