Ultrasound Methods for Lower Rectal Cancer Staging

Abstract

By endorectal ultrasonography the rectal tumors can be evaluated for their size, stage, echostructure and vascularization. Cancers in the parts of the colon beyond the rectum usually are not staged with ultrasound methods, because the primary treatment-surgical resection gives the means for definite pathohistological staging and grading. The forward-viewing radial-array echoendoscopes gives the ability to reach and evaluate these lesions. The accuracy of the collected data and its significance for clinical practice in the cases of colon tumors has to be verified by larger systematic studies [4]. The endosonographic image of rectal carcinoma is one of a hypoechoic, heterogenic lesion and the degree to which it disrupts the rectal wall layers determines the local tumor T-stage.