Intraoperative sonography for the detection of occult liver metastases in colorectal cancer

: In a prospective study of 85 patients with operation of colorectal cancer intraoperative ultrasonography of the liver was performed for the detection of liver metastases. The findings were compared with the results of preoperative ultrasonography and CT-scan as well as the findings of intraoperative inspection and palpation of the liver. Seventeen (24.3%) of a total of 70 metastases of this series could only be detected by intraoperative ultrasonography. This was related to 12 (14.1%) of the examined patients. Four (5.7%) of these lesions were solitary and concerned 4.7% of the cases. Due to the intraoperative sonographic findings the tactics of operation was changed in 15.3% of the patients. Intraoperative ultrasonography has a significantly higher sensitivity for the detection of liver metastases from colorectal cancer than preoperative ultrasonography and computed tomography or intraoperative inspection and palpation. Intraoperative ultrasonography of the liver should be applied in all patients without preoperative evidence of liver metastases and in patients with a planned resection of metastases.