CT scan of abdomen and pelvis revealed a mass with an exophytic component on the left posterolateral segment of the rectum, and a small adjacent lymphadenopathy of 1 cm.
A chest radiograph showed left pleural effusion and an increase in the image of basal atelectatic condensation that existed in a study from the previous year.
The surgery was performed the following month, with an ileostomy. The biopsy showed an ulcerated rectal lesion of 7 x 8 x 3 cm, tubular histological type with mucinous-focal component with lymphatic permeation, infiltrative histological margin and without blood permeation, perineural or tumour perforation, 2/3 positive lymph nodes.
Conclusion: Dukes C colon carcinoma Group C2 by Astlery Coller, Group III by Jass.
Teaching points:
PET-FDG can be used for initial staging and re-staging in rectal carcinoma.
PET-FDG can help clarify the origin of new CT findings.
