Contrast-enhanced CT colonography with 64-slice MDCT compared to endoscopic colonoscopy in the follow-up of patients after colorectal cancer resection

Background: Seventy percent of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases are potential candidates for curative surgery, but after resection, in 30%, the tumor will recur. Postoperative follow-up includes endoscopic colonoscopy (EC) and computed tomography (CT). There have been only a few publications on the use of contrast-enhanced CT colonography (CECTC) in the follow-up of these patients. Methods: Twenty-nine consecutive patients after resection of colorectal cancer underwent CECTC and EC on the same day. CECTC studies were reviewed for identification of strictures, recurrence, polyps and metastases. Results: The anastomosis was identified in 96% of patients on CECTC and in 82% on endoscopic colonoscopy. One stricture was identified by both techniques. One extraluminal recurrence was depicted only on CECTC. Sensitivity in detecting polyps was per polyp 93% and per patient 100%. Conclusion: CECTC performed on a 64-slice multidetector CT is reliable in imaging the postoperative colon for the follow-up of patients after resection of colorectal cancer.