Colon cancer: morphology detected with barium enema examination versus histopathologic stage.

Abstract

To determine the relationship between the morphology of colon carcinomas detected with barium enema examination and the cancer stage. Clinical, radiographic, endoscopic, surgical, and histopathologic findings were retrospectively reviewed in 152 patients with colon cancer detected with barium enema examination during a 2-year period. Eighty-six patients (57%) had lesions in the rectum and sigmoid and descending colon, and 66 (43%) patients had lesions more proximally in the colon. Lesions on the right side of the colon were less likely to cause symptoms than those on the left side. Eighty-one patients (53%) had annular or semiannular lesions, 57 (38%) had polypoid lesions, and 14 (9%) had plaquelike or carpet lesions. Six patients (4%) had Dukes stage A lesions; 84 (55%), Dukes stage B lesions; 42 (28%), Dukes stage C lesions; and 20 (13%), Dukes stage D lesions. Annular or semiannular carcinomas had higher rates of serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis than polypoid carcinomas, but the rates of liver metastases were comparable.