Comparison of the Pathological Findings by Endorectal Ultrasonography in Pre-operative Staging of Rectum Cancer

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative staging of rectum cancer is of great importance as it is decisive in choosing one of the many treatment options available today. Endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) may demonstrate the stage of rectal cancer, invasion of the tumor through the rectal wall and mesorectum, and the lymph node involvement. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of ERUS in rectal cancer staging according to pathology results. METHODS: In this study, the impact of preoperative staging with ERUS was investigated retrospectively in 40 patients with rectal tumors and compared with the final histopathological diagnosis based on the TNM staging. RESULTS: In our 3-year follow-up of patients, a comparison of ERUS outcomes with the final pathological diagnosis revealed that the correct stage was reached in 27 of 40 cases. The accuracy rate of ERUS in the differential diagnosis was 67.5%, and it was found to be significantly different from the pathological diagnoses. The total accuracy rate of ERUS in differential diagnosis of lymph node metastasis was found to be 61.5%, but there was no significant difference compared to pathological diagnoses. The sensitivity of ERUS was 71%, and specificity was 50%, but no significant difference was found compared to pathological diagnoses. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: ERUS is a valuable method with high accuracy rates in determining the degree of invasion of the tumor and determining the lymph node involvement, which is the most crucial factor determining the treatment modality in rectum tumors.

Keywords

• rectal cancer
• diagnostic imaging
• tumor staging