6 PROSPECTIVE SERIES OF ENDO‐ULTRASONOGRAPHY WITH MINIPROBE STAGING FOR EARLY COLORECTAL TUMOUR

Abstract

Background: Endo‐ultrasonography (EUS) with miniprobe ultrasound provides another means of preoperative staging of colorectal tumour. Unlike rigid transrectal ultrasonography, the miniprobe examines the tumour in its natural anatomy without direct contact and compression onto the index tumour. Second, it can reach lesions beyond the rectum. Furthermore, it can serve as a complementary investigation along with our usual colonoscopy.Aim: To examine the accuracy of EUS with miniprobe in the staging of early colorectal tumour.Methods: Patients’ early sessile colorectal tumours were assessed preoperatively with EUS and miniprobe. The ultrasonographic tumour staging (uTx) of lesions was correlated with pathological staging (pTx).Results: Between June 2005 and November 2006, 17 patients with early sessile colorectal lesions were examined. The lesion was located in the rectum in 12 patients. The mean polyp size for uT0 lesion was 2.4 cm and the overall accuracy for uT0 staging was 92%.Conclusions: Endo‐ultrasonography with miniprobe is accurate in preoperative T‐staging in early sessile colorectal tumours.