[Computed Axial tomography in patients with abdomino-perineal excision. A radiological and clinical control (author's...

From 1978 to 1980 a total of 119 patients with carcinoma of the rectum were treated by abdominoperineal excision at Erlangen University Surgical Clinic. 66 of these patients were examined by CAT scan in a follow-up study. Local recurrence was found in nine patients. A radical second operation was useful in one case only. Our findings show, that only postoperative check-ups by CAT scan can detect new tumor growth at an early state. The prognostic groups used in Erlangen are helpful in defining the intervals for postoperative examinations by CAT scan.