Multi-detector CT in the Evaluation of Patients with Recurrence of Rectal Cancer

• Published in: Technology in cancer research & treatment 2006-06, Vol.5 (3), p.285-289
• Main Authors: Stueckle, Christoph A., Adams, Stefan, Stueckle, Kerstin F., Szpakowski, Michael, Schneider, Oliver, Friedrich, Christoph, Thiem, Ulrich, Pientka, Ludger, Liermann, Dieter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Digestive system; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - diagnostic imaging; Radiodiagnosis. Nmr imagery. Nmr spectrometry; Rectal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods; Tumors
• ISSN: 1533-0346; 1533-0338
• DOI: 10.1177/153303460600500310

The advantages of multiplanar reconstruction in rectal cancer recurrence diagnostics using medium resolution multi-detector CT are evaluated. We included 40 patients after a rectal cancer operation in this study. During follow-up ten patients developed a recurrence. All patients received a minimum of two CT-examinations in their follow-up program. A total of 131 CT-scans were evaluated. Each examination was reviewed by two experienced radiologists in respect to recurrence. Each examination was presented in axial reconstruction with a slice thickness of 8mm with an increment of 7mm and a slice thickness of 3mm with an increment of 2mm. The thin slices were used for the multi-planar reconstruction. Multi-planar reconstructions showed better results for the detection of recurrence than axial reconstruction. A reduced slice thickness did not lead to better results in axial reconstruction. Multi-planar reconstruction showed a sensitivity of 0.88, a specificity of 1.0 and an accuracy of 0.97. Our axial reconstruction results were: 0.86, 0.96, and 0.93, respectively. Sensitivity and accuracy showed a significant increase after the first and second examinations. Multi-planar reconstructions allow for better detection of rectal cancer recurrence when compared to axial reconstructions. Thinner axial slice thickness shows no diagnostic advantage.