Ultrasonography in diagnosing colorectal cancers in patients presenting with abdominal distension.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the usefulness of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients presenting with abdominal distension.


METHODS
A prospective case series of consecutive adult patients with abdominal distension admitted to the National Taiwan University Hospital between January 2001 and July 2004. All participants were examined by abdominal ultrasonography. Those with suspected colorectal tumours on ultrasonography had follow-up colonoscopy, while all other patients had computed tomography scans.


METHODS
Accuracy of abdominal ultrasonography for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients with abdominal distension; incidence of colorectal cancer.


RESULTS
Of 511 patients eligible for inclusion in our study, 97 (19.0%) were confirmed to have colorectal cancer. For diagnosis of colorectal cancer, ultrasonography had a sensitivity of 92.8% (95% CI, 85.2%-96.8%); a specificity of 98.8% (95% CI, 97.0%-99.6%); a positive predictive value of 94.7% (95% CI, 87.6%-98.0%); a negative predictive value of 98.3% (95% CI 96.4%-99.3%); and an accuracy of 97.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasonography is a sensitive tool for diagnosing colorectal cancer in patients presenting with abdominal distension.
Chen
Shyr-Chyr
SC
National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. scc@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Yen
Zui-Shen
ZS
Wang
Hsiu-Po
HP
Lee
Chien-Chang
CC
Hsu
Chiung-Yuan
CY
Chen
Wen-Jone
WJ
Hsu
Chien-Yao
CY
Lai
Hong-Shiee
HS
Lin
Fang-Yue
FY
Chen
Wei-Jao
WJ
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003113:Colonoscopy; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D003248:Constipation / Q000209:etiology; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology