Preoperative investigations for metastatic staging of colon and rectal cancer across multiple centres - what is current practice?

Objective The optimal strategy for elective distant staging of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) has yet to be defined, with current guidelines based on small and limited series. One specific issue requiring review is the value of routine computerized tomographic (CT) chest examination. Also lacking is data on current routine clinical practice. Method A retrospective chart review of consecutive cases of elective surgery for CRC from five hospitals. Results Two hundred and fifty-seven cases were reviewed, 128 colon and 129 rectal primaries. 164 (64%) of patients overall, ranging from 45% to 88% across the individual centres, had a preoperative serum CEA level performed. CT abdomen/pelvis was performed in 222 (86%) of cases, ranging from 69% to 98% per centre. CT chest was performed in 95 (37%) of cases, 47% of rectal vs 29% of colon cancers (P = 0.004). In 17 cases (18%) CT chest examinations revealed abnormalities suspicious for metastatic disease, leading to a change in management in six (35%) of these cases. Of the 17 cases with an abnormal CT chest, in only 5 of the 14 (36%) where carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were also recorded was this increased, and in only three (21%) was this markedly (> 10 mu g/l) elevated. Conclusions Substantial variability exists in the preoperative evaluation of patients with CRC. Many patients do not have a CEA and/or abdominal imaging performed. Where performed, CT chest revealed suspicious findings in a significant number of patients, the vast majority of whom had a normal or near normal CEA. Future studies are required to define optimal preoperative staging.