title: [Transrectal ultrasonography by rotating feeler in the perianal fistulae/abscesses surgery. Anatomo-functional description].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anal fistula represents a big topically subject above all as regards the complex correlated surgical implications. The transectal ultrasonography (TUS) is the first help for a careful, cheep, poorly invasive diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  From September 2002 to December 2003 we submitted TUS 53 patient with clinical diagnosis of perianal fistula abscesses and 27 patients, already subordinates to surgical intervention for perianal fistulae/abscesses, which only presented perianal pain without clear signs of perianal pathology (48 males and 15 females).
  
  
  RESULTS
  TUS diagnosis and surgical confirmation of abscess and/or anal fistulae in all the patients; in the 27 patients, in whom at clinician exam was not clear an abscess, it was diagnosed in 21 patients (6 positive-false).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained data show the validity of this methodical diagnostics and its importance for a correct surgical management. The 7.2% of discovered positive-false (surgical response: scary tissue), they are to charge to the objective technical dfficulty with discriminating scary outcomes; in confirmation of that the datum that in all these cases the patients had already been submitted to previous ano-rectal surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgery of the anal abscesses and fistulas, for effective being, must stay in balance between aggressiveness and safeguards surgery. Surgery, to be correct, cannot leave out of consideration TUS: a valid tool in the Pre-operatory diagnosis, but also in the Post-operatory phase to highlight possible recidivisms.
authors.affiliation: Casa di Cura Villa del Sole, Reparto di Chirurgia Generale, U.O. di Colonproctologia, Cosenza. danilo.cafaro@tiscalinet.it
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cafaro
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Onofrio
mesh_terms: D018784:Abdominal Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001004:Anus Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation