Colorectal cancer other imaging findings

Other imaging tests that can be used for colorectal cancer are endoscopy, PET scan, barium study, and angiography.

• It is also known as CT colonography.
• CT colonography replaces X-ray films in the double contrast barium enema with a special computed tomography scan and requires special workstation software in order for the radiologist to interpret.
• This technique is approaching colonoscopy in sensitivity for polyps.
• However, any polyps found must still be removed by standard colonoscopy.^[1]

• Cancer cells in the body grow rapidly, so they absorb the radioactive sugar fluorodeoxyglucose or FDG used in positron emission tomography (PET).
• The location and extent of the tumor mass can be determined using a PET scan.
• Also, metastatic lesions and their locations can be assessed using a PET scan.
• PET scans are evolving as a very useful modality for staging and assessment of colorectal cancers.
• PET-CT scan has the advantage tissue based resolution and is useful in detecting whole body metastasis.

• First, an overnight preparation is taken to cleanse the colon.
• An enema containing barium sulfate is administered, then air is insufflated into the colon, distending it.
• The result is a thin layer of barium over the inner lining of the colon which is visible on X-ray films.
• A cancer or a precancerous polyp can be detected this way.
• This technique can miss the (less common) flat polyp. Barium study can be used to delineate the lesion preoperatively.

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