[Sensitivity and specificity of transrectal ultrasonography in the preoperative staging and postoperative follow-up in rectal neoplasms. Experience with 100 clinical cases].
Preoperative staging plays an important role in the surgical treatment of rectal cancer. The most sensitive imaging techniques currently available are CT, MRI and transanal ultrasound (TAUS). The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of TAUS in the preoperative staging and postoperative follow-up of rectal cancer.


METHODS
From January 1992 to May 1999, TAUS was used to study 100 patients with rectal cancer.


RESULTS
Patients were staged according to the Astler-Coller classification: 1) A: 8 patients; 2) B1: 16 patients; 3) B2: 22 patients; C1: 30 patients; C2: 24 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of TAUS in the preoperative staging of these tumors were 96% for the T parameter, and 100% for the N parameter. The N but not the T parameter results are in line with the values reported in the international literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Transanal ultrasound, in our personal experience, has proved to be a very accurate imaging technique in the preoperative staging and postoperative follow-up of rectal cancer.
Dattola
A
A
1a Clinica Chirurgica Generale e Terapia Chirurgica, Università degli Studi di Messina, Policlinico Universitario G. Martino.
Alberti
A
A
Parisi
A
A
Maccarone
P
P
Celi
S
S
Basile
M
M
D019160:Endosonography; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D012086:Reoperation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013997:Time Factors