Assessment of gastric cancer: value of breathhold technique and two-phase spiral CT

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capabilities of subsecond spi ral CT in detecting and staging of gastric cancer Our study included 40 pat ients with endoscopically detected gastric carcinomas. Two-phase spiral CT as performed within one breathhold each. Distension of the stomach was achi eved by intravenous application of scopolamine and drinking of 500 mi water . After bolus injection of contrast medium, scanning was performed in the a rterial and venous phase. Gastric tumour extention and lymph node involveme nt was assessed. Gastric cancer was detected in 39 of 40 cases (sensitivity 97.5%). Location of the tumour was correctly assessed in all cases. In 31 of the 39 cases (79.4 %) CT staging was accordant with pathological staging . One hundred two (70%) of 145 nodes infiltrated by tumour tissue were dete cted and 144 (42.8%) of 336 nodes free of metastatic involvement were found . The predictive values of positive and negative results for the detection of lymph node metastases were 67.1 and 75 %, respectively. Spiral CT is rec ommended for staging of gastric cancer.