[The value of endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) in the assessment of the clinical severity of ulcerative colitis].
OBJECTIVE
Endorectal ultrasonography (ERUS) represents a relatively new diagnostic tool enabling easy and precise assessment of rectal wall lesions, used mostly in diagnosing of the carcinoma of the rectum. It seems to be a valuable examination in the evaluation of the severity of ulcerative colitis.


METHODS
56 patients (23 F, 33 M; mean age 51.4, range 17-72) with histopathologically confirmed ulcerative colitis, operated at 1st Departament of General and GI Surgery in Cracow, were enrolled to the study. In all patients endorectal ultrasonography was performed to assess the severity of the disease. The diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, PPV and NPV of ERUS were analyzed basing on intraoperative surgical assessment and postoperative histopathological examination.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of ERUS reached 85.7 per cent, specificity was high - 97.3 per cent PPV - 88.9 per cent, NPV - 92.4 per cent and overall accuracy 95 per cent.


CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of the severity of ulcerative colitis using endorectal ultrasonography corresponds with clinical severity of the disease. ERUS is a valuable, relatively cost-effective diagnostic tool of high overall accuracy, which may be helpful in clinical evaluation and monitoring of ulcerative colitis.
Kibil
Wojciech
W
I Katerda Chirurgii Ogólnej i Klinika Chirurgii Gastroenterologicznej Collegium Medicum, Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego w Krakowie.
Kłek
Stanisław
S
Gurda-Duda
Anna
A
Kopciński
Paweł
P
Kulig
Jan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012007:Rectum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index