Primary lymphoma of the colon and rectum: CT and barium enema correlation

This paper presents the computed tomographic (CT) and barium enema (BE) findings in seven patients with proven primary lymphoma of the colon and rectum. CT and BE examination are complimentary studies in the evaluation of primary lymphoma of the colorectum, and certain relevant findings may be missed when radiographic evaluation does not include both modalities. Both CT and barium studies are very accurate in detecting bulky endoexoenteric tumor masses, although CT may suggest features which can differentiate primary lymphoma from adenocarcinoma. The real utility of obtaining both a CT and BE examination may lie more in diagnosing complications, such as fistula formation and in the evaluation of subtle infiltrative lesions. While CT is necessary for staging purposes, BE examination may be invaluable for detecting subtle mucosal filling defects which could be missed on CT.