Onkológia 3/2011

Computed tomography in the diagnosis and staging of gastric cancer

Multi–detector row CT allows noninvasive assessment of the gastric wall, the perigastric extent of disease and substantially improved radiologic staging of gastric cancer. CT provides extraluminal information such as the presence of lymphadenopathy and distant metastasis. For ideal imaging of the stomach, adequate distention is essential. If the entire stomach is not well distended, disease may be overlooked or conversely, the collapsed gastric wall may mimic disease. Scanning examination protocol is more important for correct staging and patient observation during treatment. Gastric wall thickness of 1 cm or greater at CT had a sensitivity of 100 %, but a specificity of less than 50 % for detection of malignant or potentially malignant stomach lesions.

Keywords: stomach, gastric adenocarcinoma, computed tomography, MDCT, staging.