Colorectal cancer: sonographic findings.

Abstract

C ancer of the colon or rectum produces a mass or segmental wall thickening that can be revealed with sonography. In patients complaining of symptoms and signs of colorectal cancer such as hematochezia, change of bowel habit, or bowel obstruction, sonography may reveal a fungating mass eccentrically located in the bowel lumen or symmetrical or asymmetrical circumferential thickening of the colonic wall. With the increasing use of sonography in the evaluation of patients with abdominal symptoms. tumors in the gastrointestinal tract, especially colorectal cancer, may be detected unexpectedly. In this essay, we illustrate the sonographic findings of colorectal cancer and discuss their clinical significance.