[Comparison of spiral CT, plain CT with surgical-pathological findings in peritoneal metastasis]

To compare enhanced spiral computed tomography (SCT), and plain CT with pathological findings in the diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis.

Thirty-eight patients with peritoneal metastasis were examined by whole abdominal plain CT and enhanced SCT within one week before operation. The CT findings were compared with the pathological findings of specimens obtained during operation.

In the early phase of contrast SCT, various degrees of enhancement were observed in the majority of peritoneal metastases. Primary cancers and the metastatic lesions were enhanced to same degree. For lesions with rich blood supply, a 2 mm metastatic lesion was usually detected by contrast SCT. The sensitivity of plain CT and enhanced SCT for the detection of peritoneal metastasis in all involvements were 46.7% and 76.6% (chi(2) = 29.07, P < 0.005). For contrast SCT, the detection rates of peritoneal carcinomatosis were higher then 83% in the fallopian tubes, ovary, subphrenic spaces, mesentery of small intestine, transverse colon and omentum.

Enhanced spiral CT, being superior to plain CT, is effective in detecting and diagnosing peritoneal metastasis.