OBJECTIVETo evaluate the diagnostic value of multislice spiral CT (MSCT) pneumocolon and image reconstruction in colorectal carcinomas.

METHODS206 patients with suspected colorectal cancer underwent whole abdominal fast volume scan using 16-slice spiral CT before they were insufflated with 1000-1500 ml air through the anus. Then the axis data were transferred to workstation for imaging by MPR, SSD, Raysum, MIP and CTVE, respectively. The results of MSCT diagnosis were compared with those of surgical pathology and from some other common adjunctive techniques, such as ultrasonography (US), colonoscopy (CC), and etc.

RESULTSIn this group, 192 cases were confirmed to be colorectal cancer by surgical pathology. 189 cases were identified by MSCT. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy was 98.4%, 92.8% and 98.1%, respectively. The accuracy rate of general tumor classification was 98.4%. These data were compared with those by US and CC, Statistical analysis showed that the qualitative diagnosis of MSCT is more accurate than those of other two examination methods, indicating that it is most valuable clinical detection approach at present.

CONCLUSIONMSCT pneumocolon is a superior detecting method as it is safe, quick and accurate. Due to the accuracy in orienting and qualitative diagnosis by comprehensive application of 2D and 3D imaging techniques, it can clearly display the detailed information of tumor in terms of morphological characteristics, blood-supply resources and pericolonic lymph nodes involvement, which provides reliable basis for making rational surgical protocol.