Endorectal ultrasonography (EUS): Its place in 2009 in the pre-therapeutic assessment and follow-up after rectal cancer treatment [échographie endorectale (EER) : Sa place en 2009 dans le bilan préthérapeutique et le suivi après traitement des cancers du rectum]

摘要

For several years, endorectal ultrasound (EUS) has been recognized to be the most simple and accurate tool in the local staging of rectal cancers. Recent understanding of the need of an accurate preoperative assessment of the circumferential resection margin, which is as important as the distal margin, its impact on treatment strategies, moreover the development of sphincter-saving surgery and the advent of the new generations of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, lead us to discuss again the place of EUS in the choice of the optimal treatment and its role in the detection of local recurrence. Which changes are admitted in this issue?