Abstract
Accurate determination of the extent of neoplasm is essential for the proper surgical management of rectal cancer. Fifty-two patients with rectal cancer were examined by computed tomography (CT), in order to determine the direct invasion of rectal carcinoma and local lymphnode metastasis, between January 1984 and December 1980. Diagnostic accuracy rate for the direct invasion was 100% in the rectosigmoid and upper rectum, 76% in the lower rectum and 81% in the whole cases. CT identified local lymphnodes and accuracy was 69% in the rectal carcinoma.
CT is useful for the preoperative determination of the direct invasion of the rectal carcinoma.
