Comparison between endoluminal ultrasonography and spiral computerized tomography for the preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of endoluminal ultrasonography (EUS) and spiral computerized tomography (SCT) in preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma. EUS and SCT were performed prior to surgery in 78 patients with rectal carcinoma. After radical surgery, the preoperative findings were compared with histologic findings on the surgical specimen, and we assessed the values of EUS and SCT in staging the tumor. For T staging, accuracy was 84.6% for EUS, 70.5% for SCT (p < 0.05). For N staging, accuracy was 64.1% for EUS, 61.5% for SCT (p > 0.05). EUS is superior to SCT in judging tumor infiltrate depth, but neither could provide satisfactory assessments of lymph node metastases.