| Theme | Mesenchymal neoplasms of the colon and rectum : excluding lymphoproliferative disorders | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Morphological diagnosis of metastatic colon cancer | |
| Publish Date | 2008/01 | |
| Author | Akihiro Ino | Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Kyusyu Cancer Center |
| Author | Kyosuke Ushio | Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Kyusyu Cancer Center |
| Author | Satoru Masunari | Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Kyusyu Cancer Center |
| Author | Toshirou Kuroiwa | Department of Diagnostic Radiology, National Kyusyu Cancer Center |
| [ Summary ] | Malignant tumors very rarely spread to the colon. The pathways by which malignancies spread have been identified as direct invasion, intraperitoneal seeding and embolic metastases. The morphological types have been classified as the tethered fold type, the extrinsic mass type and the diffuse type through barium enema radiography. Endoscopic findings of metastatic lesions include tethered folds or SMT like lesions with edema, redness, erosion and ulceration. With computed tomography, the lesions are visualized as abnormally thick colonic walls, mesenteric abnormalities and intraperitoneal masses with ascites. Metastatic colon cancer images present characteristic morphological features depending on the patterns of involvement, the pathways and the primary sites. Generally, direct invasion from the stomach and pancreas involves the transverse colon and presents the tethered fold type of metastatic colon cancer. Recognition of these characteristic morphological findings is very important in the diagnosis of colon cancer. |
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