Physiological considerations in imaging liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma

Approximately 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are discovered annually in the United States; 20,000 of these, or 15%, are potentially resectable for cure by current surgical criteria. Knowledge of the presence or absence of hepatic metastases from colorectal cancer is critical to the application of these criteria. This knowledge is also important during the follow-up period. We discuss the pathophysiology of these lesions and current diagnostic approaches.