Does A Standard Ct Scan Of The Pelvis With Contrast

Posted on Wed, 7 Nov 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 7 Nov 2018 Answered on

Last reviewed on

Question : does a standard ct scan of the pelvis with contrast show colon cancer?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
CT abdomen is preferred...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

In pure terms CT pelvis is used to assess pelvic organs - bladder and reproductive organs. However most radiological centres perform CT abdomen and pelvis together, therefore the radiologist will be able to assess stomach and colon structures while performing scan.

So I would say yes, the radiologist would be able to assess colon structures while performing CT pelvis. In rare circumstance when radiologist don't image abdomen organs, colon structures may be missed.

Hope this answered your question. Let me know if you need clarifications.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Prasad J (1 hour later)

I just reviewed my results, and it did say abdominal/pelvic. Since my findings were clear, would you say that is satisfactory to say colon cancer is unlikely?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Prasad J (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Colonoscopy is the gold standard test...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Abdominal and pelvic scan is quite efficient at checking for structural masses of the colon. It does help in differentiating a normal colon from cancer. However, the early stages of cancer when the cancer is limited to mucosa the gold standard test is the colonoscopy.

Therefore if there is a suspicion about cancer, a colonoscopy is the test to look for. A CT scan is more useful in detecting the spread of colon cancer to other organs.

Hope I was able to answer your questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar