Recurrent colorectal carcinoma: evaluation with barium enema examination and CT.

The efficacy of the barium enema examination and abdominal computed tomography (CT) was investigated in 81 patients who had undergone operation for colorectal carcinoma. Recurrent disease was found in 52 patients and was divided into local (anastomotic and perianastomotic) and remote (distant and hepatic metastases) types. In 32 patients with locally recurrent carcinoma, the sensitivity of the barium enema examination was 88%; for CT it was 69%. Conversely, the barium enema examination was not useful for detecting remote metastases shown on CT, which disclosed disease at one or more sites in 47 (90%) of the 52 patients. CT best evaluated recurrences remote from the anastomosis, pelvic recurrences in patients with colostomies, and hepatic metastases. Barium enema examination and CT were therefore found to be complementary modalities.