3D endoanal ultrasound versus external phased array MRI in detection and evaluation of anal sphincteric lesions

Abstract

Background The anal sphincteric complex is formed by internal and external sphincters making two partially overlapping tubes around the anal canal. Anal sphincteric lesions represent a spectrum of entities with different patients’ presentations and surgical managements. Endoanal ultrasound has an increasing role in detection and evaluation of anal sphincteric lesions as compared to MRI of the anal canal. The aim of this work was to compare between the 3D EAUA and external phased array MRI in detection and evaluation of anal sphincteric lesions. Results There is almost perfect agreement of 97.92% (Κw = 0.972) between 3D EAUS and external phased array MRI in the detection of the internal anal sphincter lesions and fair agreement of 66.67% (Κw = 0.37) in the detection of the external anal sphincteric lesions. Conclusions 3D EAUS and external phased array MRI are comparable imaging techniques in the detection of the internal anal sphincter lesions, while the MRI could detect more external sphincteric lesions than EAUS.