title: Radiological assessment of anal cancer: an overview and update.
abstract: Anal cancer is uncommon neoplasm with an incidence of 2 new cases per 100,000 per year in the USA, accounting approximately 0.4 % of all tumors and 2.5 % of gastrointestinal malignancies. An early detection of the anal cancer is crucial for the patient management, whereas the diagnosis at an early stage allows conservative management with sphincter sparing, on the contrary a delays in diagnosis might lead to an advance cancer stage at presentation with worst survival. According to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Anal Carcinoma guidelines the patients should be subjected to a careful clinical examination, including a digital rectal examination (DRE), an anoscopic examination, and palpation of inguinal nodes. The guidelines recommended for the assessment of T stage, only a clinical examination, while the role of imaging techniques, as Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI) is limited to the identification of regional nodes. Instead, the endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) is not recommended. This paper presents an overview and some updates about 3D EAUS and MRI in detection, staging and assessment post therapy of anal cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Radiant and Metabolic Therapy, "Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione Giovanni Pascale - IRCCS", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenza
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Radiant and Metabolic Therapy, "Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione Giovanni Pascale - IRCCS", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fusco
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Experimental Medicine, Magrassi-Lanzara, Institute of Radiology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reginelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Experimental Medicine, Magrassi-Lanzara, Institute of Radiology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberto
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Granata
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgical Oncology, "Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione Giovanni Pascale - IRCCS", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rega
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Experimental Medicine, Magrassi-Lanzara, Institute of Radiology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rotondo
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal and Experimental Medicine, Magrassi-Lanzara, Institute of Radiology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, "Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale - IRCCS di Napoli", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Izzo
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Radiant and Metabolic Therapy, "Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione Giovanni Pascale - IRCCS", Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrillo
keywords: 3D Endo anal Ultrasound; Anal Cancer; Detection Cancer; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Post-treatment Imaging Assessment