The Role Of Computed Tomography In Staging Of Rectal Carcinoma:

Saied Ibrahem Adam

For evaluating primary rectal malignancies CT & otherradiological modalities are complementary methods whichare useful in assessing patients suspected of having extensivedisease and in deciding whether a patient will benefit frompreoperative radiation. CT is useful not only in staging ofrectal carcinoma but also in designing radiation practice andin detecting complications related to neoplasm such asperforation with abscess formation. However CT lacks theability to assess depth of neoplastic involvement withinbowel wall . This limitation is the major factor which,combined with inability to diagnose metastatic tumour fociin normal sized nodes and microinvasion of perirectal fat,prevents optimal tumour staging. Because of low accuracyfor staging early cancer staging. CT in complimentation toother radiological modalities is recommended for routine lisein preoperative staging.CT is useful in identifying extracolonic component ofneoplasm and their spread to adjacent organs. CT is superiorin detection of pelvic and distant lymphadenopathy, inguided percutaneous needle biopsies and being non extensivemethod of investigation.Lastly CT IS complementary to vanous otherradiological modalities to reach proper diagnosis & stagingof rectal adenocarcinoma.