Transrectal ultrasonography in evaluation of chronic rectal complications after radiation therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
OBJECTIVE
The authors studied the ability of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) to assess chronic rectal complications after radiation therapy for carcinoma of the uterine cervix.


METHODS
One hundred twenty-five TRUSs were performed for 67 consecutive patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Transrectal ultrasonography images of the rectal anterior wall and perirectal connective tissue adjacent to the uterine cervix were recorded with real-time scanner with 7.5 MHz transducer. The severity of TRUS abnormalities was graded on a scale developed by the authors. The relationships of the TRUS grade with the clinical grade of chronic rectal complications and with rectal radiation doses were analyzed retrospectively.


RESULTS
Thickening of the perirectal connective tissue associated with obscuration of the submucosal echogenic layer in rectal anterior wall was observed between 6 months to 2 years after radiation therapy in all 19 patients who developed chronic rectal complications. The TRUS grade correlated with the clinical grade of chronic rectal complications, but did not correlate with rectal radiation doses.


CONCLUSIONS
Transrectal ultrasonography can monitor the chronic rectal complications after radiation therapy for the patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
Shiojima
K
K
Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.
Mitsuhashi
N
N
Yamakawa
M
M
Sakurai
H
H
Niibe
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014463:Ultrasonography; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*