Abstract
Aim
The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of water enema computed tomography (WECT) for the diagnosis of colon cancer.
Methods
A total of 191 patients referred for clinically suspected colon cancer were prospectively evaluated by WECT in a multicenter trial. Examination was contrast enhanced helical CT after colon filling through a rectal tube. For all the cases, final diagnosis was obtained by colonoscopy and/or surgery. CT data were interpreted both locally and at a centralized site by a specialized and general radiologist.
Results
Seventy-one patients were diagnosed with colon cancer. Overall, WECT sensitivity and specificity were 98.6 and 95.0%, respectively. Positive and negative predictive values were 92.1 and 99.1%, respectively. In a subgroup of 33 patients with unclean bowel, the sensitivity and specificity of WECT were 95.0 and 92.3%, respectively. The correlation between local radiologists and the specialized radiologist was excellent (Kappa = 0.87) as was the correlation between the general radiologist and the specialist (Kappa = 0.92).
Conclusion
This prospective analysis demonstrates that WECT is an effective, safe, and simple imaging technique for the diagnosis of colon cancer and can be proposed when a strong clinical suspicion of colon cancer is present, especially in frail patients.
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Acknowledgment
Anthony Bailleul from the clinical research centre of the University Hospital of Angers for the data collection.
Conflict of interest
Regarding our work, no conflict of interest between the author and co-authors has arisen in the past or is presently existent. No financial arrangement has biased our work and no outside interests have influenced our results.
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Ridereau-Zins, C., Aubé, C., Luet, D. et al. Assessment of water enema computed tomography: an effective imaging technique for the diagnosis of colon cancer. Abdom Imaging 35, 407–413 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-009-9536-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-009-9536-5