CT OF CALCIFIED LIVER METASTASES IN COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

Purpose: To assess the incidence, characteristics and prognostic signi ficance of calcification within colorectal hepatic metastases. Materia ls and Methods: A retrospective analysis of CT in 265 patients with lo cally advanced or metastatic cancer was performed. Four groups were de fined: (a) calcification within liver metastases prior to therapy, (b) noncalcified liver metastases with development of calcification on th erapy, (c) noncalcified liver metastases, and (d) advanced local tumou r without liver metastases. The number of calcified deposits in each p atient was documented. A marker lesion was analysed for character, dis tribution and percentage of calcification. Survival between the four g roups was compared. Results: Twenty-nine (11%) patients had calcified liver metastases at presentation and 10 (4%) developed calcification d uring chemotherapy, Analysis of a marker lesion showed that the most f requent characteristic was fine calcification with a variable distribu tion. The most frequent change on treatment was alteration in the exte nt of calcification. Calcification developing on treatment was usually central. There was no difference in survival between groups 1, 2 and 3, but groups 1, 2 and 3 had a shorter survival than group 4. Conclusi on: Calcification of liver metastases shows a variable pattern and may develop or change during therapy. Liver metastatic calcification may not carry any prognostic significance in colorectal cancer.