INTRAOPERATIVE ULTRASOUND FOR THE DETECTION OF HEPATIC METASTASES FROM COLORECTAL-CANCER

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of intra-operative u ltrasound (IOUS) with other imaging modalities and with surgical palpa tion in detecting liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC). Intra -operative ultrasound was performed in 100 patients undergoing surgery for CRC. All patients had pre-operative liver function tests, transcu taneous ultrasound and computerized tomography (CT) scan of the liver. The liver was palpated intra-operatively by a surgeon who was unaware of the pre-operative findings. The liver was then assessed by IOUS. I ntra-operative ultrasound detected more patients with metastases than either CT scan, transcutaneous ultrasound or surgical palpation. It al so detected a greater number of smaller metastases in these patients a nd allowed better anatomical definition compared with pre-operative in vestigations.