Abstract
Colorectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western countries. Computed tomography (CT) colonography and conventional colonoscopy are the procedures of choice for the diagnosis. However, sonography, being the first imaging study in patients with aspecific abdominal symptoms, may detect unexpected abdominal tumors. The main sonographic features of colorectal cancer are a short segment with bowel wall thickening or a focal mass of the colon, usually with hypoechoic echo pattern and with irregular margins. The detection of these ultrasonographic signs can lead to prompt appropriate investigations and speedup the diagnostic process.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bipat S, Glas A, Slors FJM, Zwinderman AH, Bossuyt PMM, Stoker J (2004) Rectal cancer: local staging and assessment of lymph node involvement with endoluminal US, CT, and MR imaging—a meta-analysis. Radiology 232:773–783
Giovannini M, Ardizzone S (2006) Anorectal ultrasound for neoplastic and inflammatory lesions. Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 20:113–135
Gluvic Z, Slovic M, Dugalic P et al (2008) Is the routine abdominal ultrasound a sufficiently sensitive method for the detection of colonic malignancy? Intern Med 47:827–831
Grubel P (2011) Evaluation of abdominal ultrasound performed by the gastroenterologist in the office. J Clin Gastroenterol 45:405–409
Grunshaw ND, Renwick IG, Scarisbrick G, Nasmyth DG (2000) Prospective evaluation of ultrasound in distal ileal and colonic obstruction. Clin Radiol 55:356–362
Gualdi GF, Casciani E, Guadalaxara A, d’Orta C, Dolettini E, Peppalardo G (2000) Local staging of rectal cancer with transrectal ultrasound and endorectal magnetic resonance imaging. Dis Colon Rectum 43:338–345
Kim SA, Lim HK, Lee SJ et al (2004) Depiction and local staging of rectal tumors: comparison of transrectal US before and after water instillation. Radiology 231:117–122
Kuzmich S, Howlett DC, Andi A, Shah D, Kuzmich T (2009) Transabdominal sonography in assessment of the bowel in adults. AJR Am J Roentgenol 192:197–212
Lim JH (1996) Colorectal cancer: sonographic findings. AJR Am J Roentgenol 167:45–47
Maconi G, Radice E, Bareggi E, Bianchi Porro G (2009) Hydrosonography of the gastrointestinal tract. AJR Am J Roentgenol 193:700–708
Maconi G, Terracciano F, de Sio I et al (2011) Referrals for bowel ultrasound in clinical practice: a survey in 12 nationwide centres in Italy. Dig Liver Dis 43:165–168
Martínez-Ares D, Martín-Granizo Barrenechea I, Souto-Ruzo J, Yáñez López J, Pallarés Peral A, Vázquez-Iglesias JL (2005) The value of abdominal ultrasound in the diagnosis of colon cancer. Rev Esp Enferm Dig 97:877–886
Marusch F, Koch A, Schmidt U et al (2002) Routine use of transrectal ultrasound in rectal carcinoma: result of prospective multi-center study. Endoscopy 34:385–390
Price J, Metreweli C (1988) Sonographic diagnosis of clinically non-palpable primary colonic neoplasm. Br J Radiol 61:190–195
Richardson NG, Heriot AG, Kumar D, Joseph AE (1998) Abdominal ultrasonography in the diagnosis of colonic cancer. Br J Surg 85:530–533
Rutgeerts LJ, Verbanck JJ, Crape AW et al (1991) Detection of colorectal cancer by routine ultrasound. J Belge Radiol 74:11–13
Schaffzin DM, Wong WD (2004) Endorectal ultrasound in the preoperative evaluation of rectal cancer. Clin Colorectal Cancer 4:124–132
Schwerk W, Braun B, Dombrowski H (1979) Real-time ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tumors. J Clin Ultrasound 7:425–431
Shirahama M, Koga T, Ishibashi H, Uchida S, Ohta Y (1994) Sonographic features of colon carcinoma seen with high-frequency transabdominal ultrasound. J Clin Ultrasound 22:359–365
Speets AM, Hoes AW, van der Graaf Y et al (2006) Upper abdominal ultrasound in general practice: indications, diagnostic yield and consequences for patient management. Fam Pract 23:507–511
Stergiou N, Haji-Kermani N, Schneider C, Menke D, Köckerling F, Wehrmann T (2003) Staging of colonic neoplasms by colonoscopic miniprobe ultrasonography. Int J Colorectal Dis 18:445–449
Zagoria RJ, Schlarb CA, Ott DJ et al (1997) Assessment of rectal tumor infiltration utilizing endorectal MR imaging and comparison with endoscopic rectal sonography. J Surg Oncol 64:312–317
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Maconi, G., Bolzacchini, E. (2013). Colorectal Cancer. In: Maconi, G., Bianchi Porro, G. (eds) Ultrasound of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Medical Radiology(). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2013_801
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/174_2013_801
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-31982-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-31983-9
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)