ABSTRACT
Advancements in surgical techniques and equipment, combined with the increasing use
of preoperative radiation, have made sphincter-saving procedures increasingly available
to patients with rectal cancer. The accurate preoperative local staging of rectal
cancer, including tumor depth penetration and regional lymph node metastases, is essential
in determining the most appropriate therapeutic option available and provides valuable
information on prognosis in patients with rectal cancer. Although several imaging
modalities such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are available
for the local staging of rectal tumors, endoscopic rectal ultrasound remains the modality
of choice. It provides accurate assessment of tumor penetration into the rectal wall
and information on regional lymph node staging in the majority of patients. This article
will review the current modalities used for the preoperative staging of patients with
rectal cancer, with emphasis on the use of endorectal ultrasound.
KEYWORD
Rectal cancer - endorectal ultrasound - staging - computed tomography - magnetic resonance
imaging
