Prognostic significance of computed tomography-detected extramural vascular invasion in colon cancer

Figure 1 Extramural vascular invasion status as detected on multiple-row detector computed tomography in colon cancer. A: A negative EMVI score of 0 on coronal MDCT. The tumor was located within the surface of the colon facing the retroperitoneum; there was no adjacent vessel (arrow). There was no indication of EMVI; B: A negative EMVI score of 1 on a coronal MDCT. The tumor was located within the mesenteric side of the colon, but no vascular invasion was seen (arrow). The image was suspicious for EMVI with a confidence level < 50%; C: A positive EMVI score of 2 on a coronal MDCT. The involved vein was small and slightly dilated (arrow head). The image was suspicious for EMVI with a confidence level > 50%; D: A positive EMVI score of 3 on an axial MDCT. The involved vein was grossly dilated (arrow head). There was a definite indication of EMVI. EMVI: Extramural vascular invasion; MDCT: Multiple-row detector computed tomography.

Figure 2 Flow chart of patient inclusion and follow-up. MDCT: Multiple-row detector computed tomography.

Figure 3 Kaplan-Meier analysis for progression-free survival. A: Whole cohort; B: T4 category cohort; C: Stage III colon cancer cohort; D: Adjuvant chemotherapy cohort. ctEMVI: Computed tomography-detected extramural vascular invasion; DFS: Disease-free survival.