Euan M Armstrong

Publications (2)5.91 Total impact

• Article: Replacing barium enema with CT colonography in patients older than 70 years: the importance of detecting extracolonic abnormalities.

  Damian J M Tolan, Euan M Armstrong, Anthony H Chapman
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  ABSTRACT: The objective of our study was to evaluate the significance of extracolonic abnormalities in patients older than 70 years referred for CT colonography (CTC). We performed a retrospective analysis of 400 consecutive patients older than 70 years undergoing CTC over a 14-month period. All patients presented with weight loss, alteration of bowel habits, rectal blood loss, abdominal pain, or anemia; these symptoms led to clinical suspicion of lower gastrointestinal abnormalities. Five hundred five separate extracolonic abnormalities were detected in 268 of 400 patients (67%). One hundred thirty-nine pathologic processes were deemed significant in 116 patients. Of these, 110 lesions (79%) were previously unknown in 96 of the 400 patients (24.0%). Forty-nine of the 400 patients (12.3%) had at least one malignancy, including 23 extracolonic malignancies and 29 colorectal malignancies. Thirteen patients had early cancers (T1N0M0 or T2N0M0). Twenty of the colon cancer patients had significant previously unknown extracolonic abnormalities, half of which were related to the primary tumor and half of which were unrelated extracolonic abnormalities. In patients older than 70 years being examined because of lower gastrointestinal symptoms, CTC findings yield a high number of new significant extracolonic abnormalities. This finding makes a compelling case for targeting this group of patients for a CTC service.
  American Journal of Roentgenology 12/2007; 189(5):1104-11. · 2.78 Impact Factor
• Article: Assistance of colorectal stent insertion by sphincterotome.

  Euan M Armstrong, Bruce M Fox
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  ABSTRACT: Palliation of patients with unresectable colorectal carcinoma is an effective treatment and technical failure is undesirable. Insertion of colorectal stent using a combined radiologic and colonoscopic technique may be technically limited by the ability to negotiate tortuous bends, particularly if the bowel is fixed. We used a through scope sphincterotome, which improved the ability to traverse difficult strictures. We have used the technique in four cases as a last resort. This resulted in a technical success in all four cases (100 percent). Sphincterotome is a useful adjunct in stenting difficult colorectal tumor strictures.
  Diseases of the Colon & Rectum 04/2007; 50(3):399-400. · 3.13 Impact Factor