DETECTION OF LIVER METASTASIS FROM COLORE CTAL-CANCER BY INTRAOPERATIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHY

Fifty patients were consecutively operated on for colorectal cancer. P reoperative ultrasonography and intraoperative palpation were compared to intraoperative ultrasonography to determine their relative capacit ies in the detection of liver metastases. Preoperative ultrasonography detected metastases in three patients (6 %), intraoperative palpation in four (8 %) and intraoperative ultrasonography in 5 (10 %). The num ber of metastases detected were 7, 19 and 19 repectively. The comparis on failed to yield significant differences. From statistical viewpoint , both preoperative ultrasonography and intraoperative palpation were found to be as effective as intraoperative ultrasonography in detectin g liver metastases.