CT diagnostic difficulties of pelvic recurrence: comparison with other medical imaging techniques (ultrasonography, immunoscintigraphy)

The authors reviewed 49 cases files of patients undergoing computed tomography (CT) of the pelvis for suspected recurrent pelvic tumour: 17 ovarian tumours, 17 tumours of the rectum and rectosigmoid, 9 uterine tumours and 6 other tumours. 32 of these patients were also investigated by pelvic ultrasonography and 26 by immunoscintigraphy (indicated in the case of a significant rise in serum tumour marker levels). In 43 cases, it was possible to establish a comparison between the results of these investigations and the follow-up of surgical operation. The CT examination was found to be the most reliable (accuracy 76 %) and immunoscintigraphy was the most sensitive (83.3%). In the 18 patients examined by both CT and immunoscintigraphy (IS), IS was found to be the more reliable method (accuracy 72%, sensitivity 75%). These results need to be confirmed by a comparative prospective study in larger patient population. The authors conclude by proposing a diagnostic strategy guided by the presenting signs