Features of Rectal Carcinoid Tumors

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively assess the detectability and enhance-ment pattern of rectal carcinoid tumors on contrast-enhanced computed tomography colonogra-phy (CE-CTC). Methods: The study sample consisted of 12 lesions in nine patients of rectal carci-noid tumors. To evaluate the detectability, two radiologists reviewed axial and 3D images includ-ing air enema (AE), virtual endoscopy (VE), and virtual colon dissection (VCD). To determine the contrast enhancement pattern of the tumors, the CT attenuation value of each lesion was meas-ured in three phases. Results: Four of the 12 lesions (33%) were detected on axial images in pa-tients in both the prone and supine positions, the sizes of which were 6 mm or larger. Seven le-sions (58%), including the four lesions mentioned above, were detected on 3D images including AE and VE in patients in the prone position, the sizes of which were 5 mm or larger. The ranges o