[The use of computerized tomography in recurrences of rectal tumors]

The authors refer the results of CT studies of 33 patients who underwent surgical resection of the rectum for cancer. In 20 of these cases there was only a suspicion of recurrence; in 13 recurrence had been already clinically or instrumentally demonstrated. In the latter group (13 patients) CT clearly showed the presence of a pelvic mass and of muscular infiltration; in 8 cases pelvic organs and in 7 cases pelvic bones were involved; the mass had liquid density features in 3 patients. In 12 of the 20 cases in which cancer recurrence was suspected, CT demonstrated the presence of a pelvic mass. Compared to the former group infiltration of pelvic organs and bones was less frequent. Granulation tissue, fibrous tissue, abscess formation and surgical removal of epiploon placed into the pelvis may all be causes of false positivity. In order to reduce the rate of wrong diagnosis it is useful a post-operative evaluation of the pelvis as soon as it has recovered from surgery.