Comparison of helical-CT and helical-CTAP for evaluating liver metastases. A prospective study in 12 patients.

Purpose. - The aim of this study was to compare helical CTAP and helical CT-scan in the preoperative assessment of liver metastases. Methods. - A prospective unicentric study in 12 patients was performed with helical CTAP and helical CT-scan. All patients underwent partial hepatectomy with intraoperative palpation and sonography within 19 days (mean : 9 days). Results. - Examination of resected liver specimens found 38 metastases, from colorectal cancer in 36 cases. The sensitivity was 92.1% for helical CTAP and 79% for helical CT-scan. This sensitivity was 85% for helical CTAP and 60% for helical CT-scan for nodules 1 cm or less in diameter (P = 0.08). Conclusion. - In the preoperative screening of liver metastases, helical CT-scan should be performed as the first choice examination. When hepatic lesions seem to be curable by resection based on helical dynamic CT-scan results, helical CTAP should be performed to increase the sensitivity of detection of lesions 1 cm or less in diameter.