Reporting colon cancer staging using a template

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of completeness of the radiological reports in primary local staging colon cancer when using a template. METHODS: The study used primary staging reports retrieved from the departments RIS/PACS. Five key tumour descriptors were evaluated within each report: tumour morphology (polypoid or annular), information on tumour breach of the colon wall (≥ T3), tumour out-growth in mm, nodal status and TNM in conclusion. The failure to provide a description of the presence or absence of a feature in a report counted as ‘not reported’. To allow comparisons between reporting styles, the template or free-text style of reporting was also recorded. RESULTS: During a two year period, a total of 666 patients CT reports were evaluated at the colorectal center multidisciplinary team (MDT) conference. In 200 of these reports a template was used. Information on tumour morphology (polypoid or annular) was present in 81% of the template reports vs 9% in free-text style. The figures in percentage for information on tumour breach of the colon wall (≥ T3) were 93% vs 48 %, tumour out-growth in mm: 51% vs 17%, nodal status: 99% vs 86% and TNM in conclusion: 98% vs 51%. P < 0.0001. CONCLUSION: The present study provides additional support for the routine use of template reports to improve imaging reporting standards in colonic cancer.