Computed tomography perfusion imaging of colorectal cancer in correlation with tumor grades

Objective Preoperative evaluation of tumor grading has essential implications in the treatment and prognosis in patients with colorectal cancers (CRCs). The aim of this study was to find the correlation between computed tomography (CT) perfusion parameters of CRC and each grade of it and the determination of the most important predictive parameters of CT perfusion for poorly differentiated CRCs. Patients and methods The study included 51 patients with colorectal carcinoma, pathologically proven by endoscopic biopsy. The patients underwent CT perfusion using a 16-row CT scanner. Quantitative values for blood flow, blood volume, mean transit time, and permeability surface were determined. Then the correlation between CT perfusion parameters and postoperative histopathological tumor grades was evaluated. Results Among CT perfusion parameters, there were significant differences in blood flow and blood volume between well-differentiated, moderately, and poorly differentiated CRCs (83.77±17.29 ml/100 g/min, 98.80±34.07 ml/100 g/min, 48.50±22.29 ml/100 g/min) and (7.20±2.32 ml/100 g, 7.44±3.73 ml/100 g, 4.62±3.03 ml/100 g), respectively. There were no significant differences as regards other perfusion parameters. Conclusion Among CT perfusion parameters, blood flow and blood volume can be used as predictive parameters for CRC grading. They show significantly lower values in poorly differentiated CRCs than in moderately differentiated and well-differentiated CRCs.