The routine use of intra-operative ultrasound in patients with colorectal cancer improves the detection of hepatic metastases

INTRODUCTION: Up to one fifth of patients with carcinoma of the colon have occult liver metastases at the time of presentation. Intra-operative hepatic ultrasonography might improve disease staging. We report the use of intra-operative ultrasonography (IOUS) in routine clinical practice over a five-year period. METHOD: Seventy-six patients with colorectal carcinoma (F 21, M 55) of median age 67 years (range 43-89 years) for whom full data were available had IOUS at the time of colonic resection. All patients had had a computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or ultrasonography (USS). RESULTS: Of 76 patients, 10 had a Dukes A, 32 had a Dukes B and 34 a Dukes C carcinoma. In 20 patients IOUS detected lesions not seen on pre-operative scanning including 11 metastases (one suitable for resection), seven benign hepatic cysts and two were benign hepatic nodules. Forty-nine patients have remained free of disease and 25 have died with systemic disease (mean survival 10 months, range 2-24 months). In the seven patients diagnosed as having hepatic cysts at IOUS two have died of systemic disease. The remaining patients (n=12) who died with systemic disease had a negative IOUS. CONCLUSION: IOUS increases diagnostic yield but a significant proportion of patients with occult hepatic metastases are not detected. IOUS improves disease staging in some patients refining the indications for adjuvant therapy and enhancing the estimate of prognosis and improving decision-making.