Value of computerized tomography in the early detection of pelvic recurrences in patients subjected to resection of rectal cancer

Forty eight patients surgically treated for carcinoma of the rectum were by computed tomography (CT) during routine follow up to test the value if this procedure in the early diagnosis of pelvic recurrences. We used a protocol which schedules controls at different intervals for Dukes A e B and for Dukes C patients; CT showed pelvic recurrences in 13.3% of the Dukes A e B and in 50% of Dukes C cases. CT seems to be the most reliable presently available test in detecting early extraluminal recurrence after radical resection for rectal cancer.