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RACS ASC 2024

Concordance Between Computer Tomography and Histological Findings in Bowel Cancer Staging

Poster

Presentation Description

Institution: Cairns Hospital - Queensland, Australia

Purpose: Computer Tomography (CT) is fundamental in the assessment of TNM (Tumour, Nodal, Metastasis) staging for bowel cancer and will guide a patient’s oncological and surgical journey. This study aimed to analyse the pre-operative TN staging derived from CT imaging and analyse the concordance with staging determined from intraoperative histological specimens. Method: A retrospective, single centre study was performed. Patients who underwent colon cancer surgery from 2019-2023 had their radiological staging established through preoperative multidisciplinary team discussions and compared against the histological staging obtained from the resected specimen. Concordance between the staging modalities were generated against anatomical tumour location. Results: 265 patients (n=139/52% male) were included within this study. Tumour (T) staging in fixed, retroperitoneal structures of the ascending (70%) and descending (68%) colon had higher concordance rates. Whereas mobile and convoluted regions of the hepatic flexure (38%) and sigmoid (58%) had decreased concordance rates. CT scanning consistently down staged the T stage of bowel cancer on average 2.73 stages below the histological result. Similarly, nodal (N) staging had comparable patterns with overall concordance at 64% and CT down staging 0.7 stages below the histological result. CT imaging failed to locate the primary tumour on 51 instances. Conclusion: These findings underscore the limitations on CT in accurately staging bowel cancer preoperatively and prompts the consideration for alternative imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Speakers

Authors

Authors

Dr Mark Johnson - , Dr. Christian Beardsley - , Dr. Eshwarshanker Jeyarajan - , Dr. Maseelan Naidoo - , Dr. Heng-Chin Chiam - , Dr. Boris Ruggerio - , Dr. Ju Yong Cheong -