[Endoscopic ultrasonography in the preoperative evaluation of rectal cancer. A prospective study in 31 patients]

Endoscopic transrectal ultrasonography (EUS) is performed with an ultrasonic transducer (7.5 mHz or 12 mHz) situated in the tip of a side viewing endoscope. Its accuracy to assess the depth of rectal cancer invasion was studied prospectively in 31 patients. The ultrasonic examination was complete in 26 cases; in 5, the stricturing tumour could not be passed by the probe. The depth of invasion was correctly evaluated in 27 of the 31 patients (accuracy: 90 per cent). The 7 superficial lesions were all correctly detected with EUS. EUS appears to be a very promising method for the pretherapeutic staging of rectal cancer.