Water enema transvaginal ultrasound for local staging of stenotic rectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND

To increase the value of ultrasound in the staging of stenotic rectal carcinoma.

METHODS

Water enema transvaginal ultrasound (WE-TVUS) was performed in 21 consecutive female patients with severely stenotic rectal tumor (adenocarcinoma histologically proved) who were selected on the basis of clinical and double-contrast barium enema study. All patients underwent surgery, and histopathologic correlation was possible.

RESULTS

Rectal tumors were well demonstrated in all cases, and a good correlation between perirectal neoplastic infiltration, and lymph node involvement at WE-TVUS and histologic data were observed. Compared with histologic results, WE-TVUS correctly staged 19 of 21 tumors (overall accuracy = 90%); one case was understaged (T4 as T3) and one case was overstaged (T3 as T4). In the detection of lymph node involvement, the sensitivity was 50% and specificity was 78%.

CONCLUSION

WE-TVUS is a potentially valuable technique for defining the local extension of severely stenotic rectal tumors in women.