Introduction: Rectal ultrasonography is a basic method for staging rectal cancer. Tissue changes after neoadjuvant treatment alter the accuracy of the method.
Aim: The aim of the authors was to assess the accuracy of rectal ultrasonography after preoperative chemo-radiotherapy compared to the initial staging accuracy.
Method: Rectal ultrasounds performed between 2006 and 2014 were assessed retrospectively. Ultrasonographic and pathological T and N stages were compared both in case of initial staging (control group) and re-staging.
Results: T staging was accurate in 70% in the control group and in 61% in re-staging. Rate of overstaging was 31% after neoadjuvant treatment. None of the ypT0 cases were identified. N staging accuracy was 64% in the control group and 61% in re-staging.
Conclusions: Neoadjuvant treatment impairs the accuracy of rectal ultrasound. The role of re-staging with rectal ultrasonography is debatable in the assessment of the efficacy of oncological treatment and surgical planning. Orv. Hetil., 2016, 157(30), 1193-1197.
Keywords: neoadjuvant treatment; neoadjuváns kezelés; rectal cancer; rectalis ultrahang; rectumcarcinoma; staging; transrectal ultrasound.