Which is more accurate on diagnosis of rectal carcinoma?

September 25, 2008

The depth of transmural tumor invasion along the rectal wall layers and involvement of the regional lymph nodes constitute major factors in the prognosis of rectal cancer. Therefore accurate preoperative staging of rectal cancer carries a crucial importance in terms of therapy and prognosis. The utility of endorectal ultrasound and pelvic phased-array magnetic resonance imaging has been demonstrated well in the literature. However, studies comparing the diagnostic accuracies of these two techniques are rare.

A research article to be published on 14 June 2008, in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. Dr. Halefoglu from Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, compared the ability of endorectal ultrasound and pelvic phased-array magnetic resonance imaging for the preoperative staging of rectal carcinoma in a prospective study. 34 patients who had biopsy proven rectal adenocarcinoma were evaluated by both modalities. The imaging results were correlated with the histopathological gold standard evaluations of the surgical specimens.

Phased-array magnetic resonance imaging was found to be slightly superior to endorectal ultrasound in determining the depth of transmural invasion and both techniques have shown similar values in detecting lymph node metastases. Although each technique has been demonstrated as very useful in the preoperative staging of rectal cancer, they can also be used as complementary methods in the accurate staging of rectal cancer.

Both medical professionals and patients are often faced with the dilemma of which technique would be more beneficial in evaluating this increasingly common and at times fatal disease. Dr. Halefoglu resident specialist of Radiology in the Sisli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey, who also completed his fellowship in the Johns Hopkins Hospital on Body MRI stated that this research could serve as a landmark in enlightening this dilemma.

World Journal of Gastroenterology

---

---

	Colon & Rectal Cancer: From Diagnosis to Treatment by Paul Ruggieri MD (Author), Addison R. Tolentino MD (Author) This handy, reassuring guide helps recently diagnosed patients answer pressing questions, such as How far advanced is the disease? What tests are involved? and What treatments will be recommended? and understand the often confusing and intimidating medical jargon. In addition, this fully updated second edition is a quick, reliable reference to the most current procedures and treatment options. Among these are the increasingly popular trend of using chemotherapy and radiation prior to surgery, targeted therapies involving newer drugs that limit their focus to the cancer cells, the use of laparoscopic surgery, and latest approaches in radiation therapy and chemotherapy drugs. This work also reviews symptoms and risk factors for colon cancer, how the disease may be prevented, and pros and...
	Positive Options for Colorectal Cancer: Self-Help and Treatment by Carol Ann Larson (Author), Kathleen Ogle (Foreword) Colorectal cancer develops slowly over a period of several years, undetected, usually as polyps. It is a preventable and treatable disease if caught in time, yet most know little about how to read its symptoms. Written for the layperson, this book covers all the uncomfortable questions and answers about the disease, from prevention and warning signs, to screening and diagnosis techniques, to making decisions and developing treatment plans. Also included are positive stories about life after cancer by 12 survivors.
	ABC of Colorectal Cancer (ABC Series) by Annie Young (Editor), Richard Hobbs (Editor), David Kerr (Editor) Colorectal cancer is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in which prevention, screening and early detection are vital. Beginning with the patient perspective and following the patient pathway, this new second edition covers epidemiology and prevention, screening programmes, decision support networks, the role of primary care, and supportive care for patients with colorectal cancer.The ABC of Colorectal Cancer provides the core knowledge on clinical genetics, diagnosis, imaging, therapy and surgery options and the latest evidence based guidelines for treating and managing colorectal cancer patients within the multidisciplinary team. Highly illustrated and accessible, it covers the full spectrum of the disease to provide the basis to make a real difference to clinical management.This...
	Rectal Cancer: International Perspectives on Multimodality Management (Current Clinical Oncology) by Brian G. Czito (Editor), Christopher G. Willett (Editor) This cutting-edge book delivers state of the art information on the evaluation and management of rectal cancer. Covering the spectrum of clinical management information from initial evaluation and staging, to advances and controversies in management, to survivor outcomes, sphincter preservation and quality of life, it is a comprehensive resource for this rapidly changing field. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, radiology, endoscopy, and pathology are fully explored, including the use of both novel and contemporary approaches in each of these disciplines. With examination of clinical trials in the United States and Europe, this book features the unique insights of a cadre of world renowned specialists. Rectal Cancer: International Perspectives on Multimodality...
	American Cancer Society's Complete Guide to Colorectal Cancer by American Cancer Society (Author), Bernard Levin (Editor), Terri Ades (Editor), Katie Couric (Editor) Created by a prestigious panel of experts, this new book offers comprehensive coverage of colorectal cancer, the second most prevalent form of cancer in the world, which, with proper screening, is almost entirely preventable. It provides up-to-date, essential information about the disease, including prevention, detection, diagnosis, treatment options, complementary and alternative therapies, coping, living well with cancer, caregiving, and much more. Throughout the text real cancer survivors offer their experience dealing with this disease, from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.
	Multidisciplinary Management of Rectal Cancer: Questions and Answers by Vincenzo Valentini (Editor), Hans-Joachim Schmoll (Editor), Cornelis J. H. van de Velde (Editor) This book seeks to promote an integrated approach among the various specialists involved in the management of rectal cancer with a view to ensuring that treatment is tailored appropriately to the individual patient. For ease of use, a question and answer format is employed. The focus is on those issues typically confronted during daily clinical practice in relation to risk factors, imaging, surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. The services of an outstanding panel of authors representative of the major European oncological societies have been acquired in order to formulate the questions and provide the answers. All who need assistance in addressing concerns that arise from the need for multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer will find the book to be an ideal source of helpful...
	Colon or Rectal Cancer: Your Way Forward by Abaco Publishing You will never cure anything if you don’t do something about the underlying cause. This applies to every illness including colon and rectal cancer. In my website ‘Colon and Rectal Cancer – Your way forward’ I explain why it may have developed, giving you something to do to change the underlying causes and bring things under control. It is almost certainly caused by a deficiency of selenium, and could be aided by constipation, bad eating habits, a poor immune system, infections, too many antibiotics, toxic chemicals, geopathic stress and certainly stresses of everyday life affecting your emotions. When cancer declares itself, it could have been developing for ten or fifteen years. All of this is explained to you in detail as though you are with me in my consulting room. I then give...
	Complementary/Holistic Medicine for Rectal Cancer - It's Your Life, Live It! by CancerGroup.com As an Oncology Nurse. I had only one protocol in mind while writing this book. That was to show you the most successful alternative, natural & complimentary cancer treatments available today for rectal cancer. To that end, you won't find a better warrior in the war on cancer than reading this book. We are honored to inform you that many leading hospitals use our books in their medical library to be used by physicians. They are Harvard University, Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Johns Hopkins, MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando, Tift Regional Cancer Center, Instituto Oncologia Moderna, Puerto Rico plus many others. It is our goal to provide you with all of the information you need to choose the correct treatment plan that is best for you, and to offer you...
	What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope by Julie K. Silver (Author) This new book, edited by a breast cancer survivor, succinctly relates the experiences, both practical and sensitive, of hundreds of cancer survivors—including celebrities such as Lance Armstrong, Carly Simon, and Scott Hamilton—who candidly relate what helped get them through every aspect of the cancer journey. The wisdom and hope offered in this book will be invaluable to newly diagnosed patients and their families, as well as their doctors and caregivers.
	Intersphincteric Resection for Low Rectal Tumors by Rudolf Schiessel (Editor), Peter Metzger (Editor) The work describes a new method of sphincter salvage in surgery of rectal cancer. Low tumors of the rectum are traditionally treated with amputation of the rectum. However, this operation is not well-received by patients, since it results in a permanent colostomy. By contrast, intersphincteric resection allows sphincter salvage even in low tumors and is now widely accepted among experts in the field of colorectal surgery. The book will describe the basics (pathology,physiology, radiology) as well as the surgical technique and its different modifications.