FIGURES AND TABLES

Figure 1.

Data collection proforma for CT colon study.

Figure 2.

Flowchart for patient selection into study.

Figure 3.

Preoperative CT scan showing a polypoid tumour of the descending colon extending into the lumen (black arrowheads). Tumour does not extend beyond the contour of the muscle coat indicating that this is an early T1/T2 tumour. Pathological staging was pT2.

Figure 4.

Preoperative CT scan showing a fungating tumour of the ascending colon. The colonic wall is thickened and the posterior contour is irregular owing to tumour projection beyond the non-peritonealised muscle coat. As there is no tumour involvement of the peritonealised surfaces, this is considered a relatively good prognosis T3 tumour. Pathology confirmed a pT3 tumour of the ascending colon.

Figure 5.

Preoperative CT scan showing a fungating tumour of the transverse colon. The anterior colonic wall is distorted by tumour. As there is minimal pericolic fat and the colon is peritonealised at this location, there is a very high probability that the tumour will be stage T4. Pathological staging was pT4pN1.

Figure 6.

Preoperative CT scan showing a bulky tumour of the descending/sigmoid junction. There is irregular nodular extension medially (arrows) indicating T3 infiltration. This is likely to extend through the medial nonperitonealised, mesenteric surface of the colon. The pathological stage was confirmed as pT3.

Figure 7.

Kaplan–Meier RFS curves according to histological group.

Figure 8.

Kaplan–Meier RFS curves according to CT-predicted T-stage.

Figure 9.

Kaplan–Meier RFS curves according to CT-predicted overall PS.

Table 1 - Definitions of TNM components in the 6th edition of the AJCC and UICC system for staging cancer of the colon and rectum, 2002 (Sobin and Wittekind, 2002).

Table 2 - Prognostic categorisation of primary tumour according to histology.

Table 3 - CT-predicted T stage for each observer vs histology T stage.