title: Ultrasonography in diagnosing colorectal cancers in patients presenting with abdominal distension.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. scc@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Shyr-Chyr
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zui-Shen
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Hsiu-Po
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chien-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chiung-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Wen-Jone
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chien-Yao
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Hong-Shiee
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Fang-Yue
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wei-Jao
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: 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