title: Learning curve for endorectal ultrasound in young and elderly: lights and shades.
abstract: Aim of the study is to highlight difficulties faced by an inexperienced surgeon in approaching endorectal-ultrasound, trying to define when learning curve can be considered complete. A prospective analysis was conducted on endorectal-ultrasound performed for subperitoneal rectal adenocarcinoma staging in the period from January 2008 to July 2013, reported by a single surgeon of Department of Oncology, Section of General Surgery, "San Luigi Gonzaga" Teaching Hospital, Orbassano (Turin, Italy); the surgeon had no previous experience in endorectal-ultrasound. Fourty-six endorectal-ultrasounds were divided into two groups: early group (composed by 23 endorectal-ultrasounds, made from January 2008 to May 2009) and late group (composed by 23 endorectal-ultrasound, carried out from June 2009 to July 2013). In our experience, the importance of a learning curve is evident for T staging, but no statystical significance is reached for results deal with N stage. We can conclude that ultrasound evaluation of anorectal and perirectal tissues is technically challenging and requires a long learning curve. Our learning curve can not be closed down, at least for N parameter.
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "San Luigi Gonzaga", Section of General Surgery, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Surace
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Section of General Surgery, San Luigi Gonzaga Teaching Hospital, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrarese
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "San Luigi Gonzaga", Section of General Surgery, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "San Luigi Gonzaga", Section of General Surgery, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bindi
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "San Luigi Gonzaga", Section of General Surgery, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cumbo
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "San Luigi Gonzaga", Section of General Surgery, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solej
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "San Luigi Gonzaga", Section of General Surgery, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Enrico
authors.affiliation: University of Turin, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Teaching Hospital "San Luigi Gonzaga", Section of General Surgery, Orbassano, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martino
keywords: Endorectal; Learning curve; Pittfalls; Ultrasound