title: Endoscopic ultrasonography in the staging and follow-up of epidermoid carcinoma of the anal canal.
abstract: Epidermoid (squamous cell) carcinomas of the anal canal are relatively rare, accounting for less than 3% of all malignant tumors affecting the large intestine. Radiation therapy alone or combined with chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. To be effective, this requires initially correct staging and accurate follow-up. Endoscopic ultrasonography plays an essential role, which, during a period of 20 months, we applied to 20 patients. This made possible initial staging according to the TNM classification system. Follow-up examinations showed reduction in size of lesions in all cases. Three patients required early post-radiation surgical intervention because of rectal or vaginal invasion or lymph node metastases. Recurrence in 3 patients, evident by mural expansion on consecutive ultrasound examinations, was diagnosed at 6, 10, and 12 months. In all 6 patients requiring surgical intervention, good correlation was observed between ultrasonic images and operative findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hopital Cochin 27, Paris, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roseau
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palazzo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colardelle
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chaussade
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Couturier
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Paolaggi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001005:Anus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011351:Proctoscopy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography