Post-operative rectal carcinoma: Follow-up imaging findings up to 6 years

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the follow-up imaging findings of the postoperative rectal carcinoma (RK) patients. METHODS: A total of 96 consecutive patients with RK were evaluated. Fifty-five of these patients who underwent surgery and had follow-up imaging examinations were evaluated for postoperative changes, complications and follow-up findings. RESULTS: The mean age of 55 patients (34E, 21K) was 58,7 (31-81). The mean follow-up time was 31,1 months (6-72 months). Granulation tissue-fibrotic changes were seen in 41 patients (74.5%). Granulation tissue-fibrotic changes were not changed in 27 patients (65.8%) and decreased in 11 patients (26.8%). There were an increase in postoperative changes in 3 patients (7.3%) which were found tumor recurrence in 2 patients (4.8%) and granulation tissue-fibrotic changes in 1 patient (6%). There were no significant pelvic lesions and postoperative fibrotic changes in 9 patients (16.4%). Fistulas (n: 4, 7,3%), cystic collections (n: 4, 7,3%), Hartman pouch leak, anastomosis leak, ileus, bone invasion and inguinal lymph node metastasis (n: 2, 3.6%, per each) were found in follow-up. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Most of the pelvic postoperative granulation tissue-fibrotic changes didn't show dimensional difference or decrease in size on follow-up. However, multimodality follow-up imaging methods are useful in diagnosis of tumor recurrence and postoperarive complications.

Keywords

• rectum cancer
• postoperative imaging
• follow-up
• radiologic findings