Preoperative evaluation of multislice CT in N staging of rectal carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the value of preoperative 64 multislice CT in N staging(lymph-node metastases) of rectal carcinoma.Methods A total of 154 patients with rectal carcinoma were enrolled in this study,and the N staging was determined on the basis of pathologic findings after surgery.The diameter,number,margin,distribution of LN,status of primary tumor in CT,and the CT findings were then analyzed statistically in different N staging groups of PN0,PN1 and PN2.Results The diameters,margin,distribution of LN and T staging of primary tumor showed significant difference with N staging(r= 0.711,0.923,0.782,0.621 and 0.836,respectively.P0.05).Conclusion It is probably helpful to improve the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis and N staging of CT by considering the diameter,margin,density,distribution of lymph nodes and T staging of primary tumor.