Incomplete colonoscopy in patients with occlusive colorectal cancer: usefulness of CT colonography according to tumor location.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the clinical usefulness of CT colonography (CTC) after incomplete conventional colonoscopy (CC) for occlusive colorectal cancer (CRC) according to the tumor location.


METHODS
Seventy-five patients with occlusive CRC underwent subsequent CTC immediately after incomplete CC. Fifty-nine patients had distal CRC and 16 had proximal colon cancer. Experienced radiologists prospectively analyzed the location, length, and TNM staging of the main tumor. The colorectal polyps in the remaining colorectum and additional extraluminal findings were also recorded. Sixty-seven patients underwent colorectal resection. We retrospectively analyzed the surgical outcome and correlated CTC and CC findings.


RESULTS
The overall accuracies of tumor staging were: T staging, 86%; N staging (nodal positivity), 70% (80%); and intra-abdominal M staging, 94%. Additional colonic polyps were found in 23 patients. Six synchronous carcinomas were detected (9%); three in the proximal colon and three in the distal colon of occlusion. Clinically significant localization errors at CC were noted in 8 patients (12%, 5 proximal colon cancers and 3 distal CRCs) and were corrected by CTC. After CTC, the surgeons modified the initial surgical plan in 11 cases (16%).


CONCLUSIONS
In occlusive CRC, CTC is not only useful in the evaluation of the proximal bowel, but can also provide surgeons with accurate information about staging and tumor localization. CTC is recommended when endoscopists encounter occlusive CRC, regardless of tumor location.
Kim
Joo Hee
JH
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 612 Eonjuro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-720, Korea. pavane@yuhs.ac
Kim
Won Ho
WH
Kim
Tae Il
TI
Kim
Nam Kyu
NK
Lee
Kang Young
KY
Kim
Myeong-Jin
MJ
Kim
Ki Whang
KW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D023881:Colonography, Computed Tomographic / Q000379:methods*; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results