Endorectal sonographic prospective staging of rectal cancer.

Endorectal sonography was used to evaluate and prospectively stage rectal cancers in 59 patients. All patients were studied without knowledge of findings of other diagnostic studies, including sigmoidoscopic, computed tomographic (CT), and digital rectal examinations. Sonographic interpretation was established blindly and compared with CT and with pathological staging after surgery for the rectal cancer. Results demonstrate that endorectal sonography is more accurate in detecting the site of rectal cancer and in defining perirectal fat infiltration and perirectal lymph node involvement as compared with CT. The experience suggests endorectal sonography is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis and prospective staging of rectal cancer.