Imaging of tumours of the caecum via computed tomography

Although contrast enema of the colon and endoscopy remain the preferential diagnostic methods in tumour of the caecum, computed tomography can accurately determine the extent of extraluminar tumour growth and hence help to arrive preoperatively at the appropriate therapeutic concept. Adenocarcinomas are morphologically distinctly different, due to focal thickenings of the colon wall, from the diffuse wall thickenings associated with malignant lymphomas, or from inflammatory conglomerate tumours. Computed tomography of the caecal region is a noninvasive examination method that can speed up diagnosis especially in elderly patients with elongated colon and stool incontinence. (orig.)