[Use of computerized axial tomography and transrectal echography in the preoperative evaluation of cancer of the rectum].

Eight patients were subjected to two types of preoperative investigation in the attempt to stage cancers localised in the final 13 cm of the rectum: CT scan and transrectal echography. CT scan was used to assess infiltration of perirectal tissues and any lymph node metastases. Echography was used to examine the degree of infiltration of the rectal wall. Patients were then submitted to surgery. The predictivity of these studies proved sufficiently high. 7 Miles amputations and 1 anterior resection were carried out. One case only in which the scan did not show signs of parietal lesions presented two perirectal lymph node metastases. If refined further, these evaluations will therefore influence surgical tactics.