To compare the diagnostic performance of abdominal enhanced-contrast CT for the resectability of gastric cancer with conventional computed tomography (CT).

The traditional CT and enhanced CT images of patients with advanced gastric cancer were analyzed and the results in assessing resectability were compared. The diagnosis of advanced gastric cancer and resectability were confirmed by intraoperative findings and histopathology.

One hundred and eighty-five cases underwent radical resection, and the other 13 were turned to palliative or laparoscopic exploration due to unresectable factors. The detection rates of conventional and enhanced CT were 93.9% (186/198) and 96.5% (191/198), respectively. The accuracy of conventional CT was 87.6%, 82.3% and 63.6% in the scope of surgical resection, operation choice and distant metastasis, and the accuracy of enhanced CT were 93.1%, 92.9%, 72.7%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P=0.036). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of conventional CT and enhanced CT in the resection of advanced gastric cancer were 89.2%, 23.1%, 84.8% and 93.0%, 38.5%, 89.4% respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P<0.01).

Abdominal contrast-enhanced CT is more accurate for the resectability of gastric cancer, minimally invasive and better resectional range than conventional plain CT.