SPIRAL CT DURING ARTERIOPORTOGRAPHY FOR DETECTION OF LIVER METASTASES

CT arterioportography using indirect portal venous application of contrast media is the most sensitive preoperative diagnostic technique for detection of liver metastases. Spiral CT allows continuous examination of the liver (no gap) during a single breathhold. Due to short measurement times an optimized vessel and tissue contrast can be achieved during the portal venous phase. Compared with intra-operative ultrasonography CTAP using spiral CT offers similar sensitivity (96 %) in the detection of liver metastases and thus emerges as an important technique for diagnosis and follow-up of liver metastases.