Abstract
We investigated the efficacy of transabdominal ultrasonography for the diagnosis of advanced colorectal cancer. Colonic examination by colonoscopy, barium study, or surgery was carried out in our institution on 1579 patients during the past 5 years. This study focused on 1564 of these patients, 15 who has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer before ultrasound examination having been excluded. The results included 51 ultrasound-positive cases, 9 ultrasound-false-positive cases, 1476 ultrasound-negative cases, and 28 ultrasound-false-negative cases. Sensitivity was 64.6 percent and specificity was 99.6 percent. Of the 28 ultrasound-false-negative cases, the lesion was detected in the ascending colon in 2, in the transverse colon in 6, in the descending colon in 1, in the sigmoid colon in 3, and in the rectum in 16. Obstruction and dilatation suggested colorectal cancer in 3 cases, which were thus classified as ultrasound-negative when no tumors were detected. Sensitivity was investigated by site. Sensitivity was lowest at 30.4 percent in rectal cancer, but was 78.6 percent in colon cancer, exclusive of rectal cancer. Laboratory findings and clinical symptoms which were suggestive of colorectal cancer were used as information before ultrasound examination was performed. Sensitivity of examinations carried out on examinees on whom prior information was available and on those on whom there was no information did not differ significantly. Furthermore, ultrasound was thought to detect approximately 65 percent of advanced colorectal cancers when it was used aggressively to investigate the large intestine. Ultrasound was thus considered effective for detecting advanced colorectal cancer.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hata J, Suenaga K, Fukino Y, et al: Ultrasonography and its diagnostic ability when screening the gastrointestinal tract. Jpn J Med Ultrasonics 1992;19: 27–34.
Yuasa H, Ide M: Syoukakan echo no mikata kangaekata. Tokyo, Igakusyoin, 1998; pp. 41–50. 178–179.
Fujii Y, Hata J, Teramen K, et al: Evaluation for ultrasonographic diagnosis of advanced colorectal cancer. J Med Ultrasonics 1997;24: 131–138.
Uchida M, Sakoda J, Fujitoh H, et al: Re-appraisal of clinical usefulness of transabdominal ultrasonography for advanced colon cancer: study of tumor detection. Nippon Acta Radiologica 1993;53: 261–265.
Shirahama M, Koga T, Uchida S, et al: Sonographic features of carcinoma of the colon. Jpn J Med Ultrasonics 1991;59 (suppl 2): 281–282.
Mizooka M, Yamada H, Hirata K, et al: Evaluation of transabdominal ultrasonography in 27 cases of transient ischemic colitis. Jpn J Med Ultrasonics 1996;23: 3–7.
Hata J, Haruma K, Suenaga K, et al: Ultrasonographic assessment for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Gastroenterology (Tokyo) 1991;15: 385–390.
Kurokawa T, Yamagata S, Masuda H, et al: X-senzou niyoru syoukakan sinzangaku. 5nd 5 ed, Tokyo, Nakayama syoten, 1979; pp. 1616–1617.
Kubota H, Iwasaki H, Sugimoto K, et al: The characteristics of advanced colorectal cancers with negative immunological fecal occult blood test. J Gastroenterol Mass Surv 1998;36: 246–249.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
About this article
Cite this article
Yabunaka, K., Fukui, H., Tamate, S. et al. Ultrasonographic diagnosis of advanced colorectal cancer. J Med Ultrasonics 30, 163–169 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02481221
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02481221