Endoluminal ultrasonography in the follow-up of patients with rectal cancer.

One principal aim in follow-up after curative surgery for colorectal cancer is to identify recurrent disease at an early and possibly treatable stage. The major problem for patients with rectal carcinoma is local recurrence, which occurs in 3-30 per cent of cases and carries a 5-year survival rate of less than 5 per cent. Since 1989, in addition to digital and sigmoidoscopic examination, endorectal ultrasonography has routinely been used in the follow-up of patients with rectal cancer. Sixty-six patients (40 men) who had undergone attempted radical surgery for mid- and lower-third rectal cancer were included in the study. The mean age was 68 (range 43-87) years. A total of 190 scans were performed, with a mean of 3 (range 1-9) for each patient. Thirteen (20 per cent) of the 66 patients developed local recurrence; in all cases this was suggested by rectal ultrasonography. Digital examination and rigid sigmoidoscopy failed to detect recurrence in three patients. Four detected recurrences were treated radically; the remaining patients received radiotherapy, palliative transanal resection or laser management because of advanced age or refusal to undergo surgery. Six patients were alive a mean of 21 (range 4-50) months after recurrence. Of these six patients, four were free from disease (three had undergone salvage surgery and one radiotherapy). Postoperative rectal ultrasonography can detect some local recurrences at an early treatable stage. The method is more accurate than digital examination and sigmoidoscopy, and should be used as part of a regular follow-up programme.