PRE- AND POSTOPERATIVE IMAGING METHODS IN COLORECTAL CANCER

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening.
• Computed tomography colonography (CTC), MRI, and transrectal ultrasonography are increasingly used in colorectal cancer management.
• These advanced imaging modalities are valuable for pre-treatment, screening, and post-treatment evaluations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of CT and MRI in staging colorectal cancer before and after surgery.
• To highlight the role of advanced imaging in colorectal cancer management.

Main Methods:

• A literature search was conducted in PubMed, SciELO, Capes Periodicals, and the American College of Radiology database.
• Articles were selected based on headings "colorectal cancer" and "colonography".
• Thirty articles with radiological descriptions, management, or statistical data were analyzed, adhering to American College of Radiology criteria.

Main Results:

• CTC is widely used for treatment planning, assessing complications, and post-surgical evaluation, though not the primary screening method.
• MRI colonography is an alternative to CT, showing promising results for TNM classification despite limited screening studies.
• Both CT and MRI demonstrate high accuracy for colorectal cancer staging.

Conclusions:

• MRI and CT are superior methods for staging colorectal neoplasms.
• Utilizing CT and MRI for screening can potentially reduce complications and patient discomfort compared to colonoscopy.