A prospective study of current diagnostic procedures for assessment of hepatic metastases in colorectal cancers.

In a prospective study of 305 patients with colorectal cancers, we assessed the diagnostic value of ultrasonography and laboratory tests. In each case laparotomy was carried out and the presence of liver metastases was established in 47 patients. The results show that the laboratory tests alone are not sufficiently accurate to detect liver metastases. Additional accuracy can be obtained by the combined use of a single liver imaging test (echography) and selected laboratory tests (C.E.A., gamma GT, Alkaline Phosphatase).