In spite of improvement of surgical treatment methods, postoperative complications remain an urgent challenge of modern oncological surgery. Major surgery in cancer patients is related with the development of a number of complications, which, in turn, are associated with high mortality, an increase in the length of hospitalization, and a delay in the initiation of adjuvant therapy. In the diagnosis of postoperative complications, the key role belongs to radiologic imaging, therefore, the understanding by the radiologist of the characteristics of the performed surgical treatment and the knowledge of the features of the radiology pattern after surgery is crucial in the timely detection of complications.

Purpose. To conduct a literature review considering the questions of diagnostics of anastomotic leaks (AL) with the help of CT.

Material and methods. The review provides literature data on the role of computed tomography in the diagnosis of anastomotic leaks after surgery in cancer patients. A CT imaging of AL after surgery performed for malignant neoplasms of the esophagus, stomach, intestines and pancreatoduodenal zone is presented.

Conclusion. Modern imaging methods play a crucial role in identifying an AL, but cases of point defects, indirect signs of AL and postoperative changes in the anastomotic zone require further study of the radiology pattern of this complication and development of criteria for its interpretation.