CT in advanced gastric carcinoma: is exploratory laparotomy avoidable?

The value of CT in the staging and assessment of resectability is demonstrated in 40 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma. The accuracy of CT using the pTNM classification of gastric carcinoma was 90% in the T category, 52.5% in the N category, 80% in the M category, and 72.5% as regards the correct staging. CT estimation of resectability was 80% correct. Based on these results, exploratory laparotomy is essential to evaluate the operability of gastric carcinoma. Exploratory laparotomy can only be avoided in patients with a proximal gastric carcinoma with clear CT demonstration of organ infiltration, N3 lymph node metastases, and distant metastases.