超声造影定量评估新辅助治疗后直肠癌的微循环血流及与微血管密度相关性

背景新辅助治疗有助于进一步提高直肠癌患者的术后疗效,降低肿瘤复发率,改善患者生活质量.准确评估其疗效意义重大.超声造影(contrast-enhanced ultrasound,CEUS)作为一种能实时显示目标组织微循环状态的超声新技术,能为临床评估疗效提供可靠的血流动力学参考.目的探讨CEUS定量评估新辅助治疗后直肠癌的微循环血流灌注状态变化,及其与微血管密度(microvessel density,MVD)相关性.方法选取在我院行新辅助治疗的进展期直肠癌患者106例,所有患者于治疗前后行CEUS检查,测定病灶微循环血流灌注参数,并与手术后标本MVD进行比较分析.结果新辅助治疗后病灶最大直径较治疗前明显减少,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);新辅助治疗后病灶曲线下面积(area under the curve,AUC)、峰值强度(peak intensity,PI)较治疗前明显下降,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);新辅助治疗后病灶PI、AUC分别与MVD呈正相关(r=0.82,P<0.05;r=0.79,P<0.05).结论CEUS能客观反映直肠癌微循环血流灌注状态,其血流灌注参数与MVD有较好相关性,可为临床评估直肠癌新辅助治疗效果提供血流动力学参考.     

直肠癌腔内超声分期的诊断价值及其与TNM分期关系

目的:探讨经直肠腔内超声(TRUS)对直肠癌术前分期的诊断价值及其与TNM分期的关系.方法:对65例经病理证实为直肠癌的患者术前进行TRUS检查, 记录癌肿浸润周径, 同时采用TNM分期标准进行分期, 并与术后TNM分期进行对照.结果:65例直肠癌术前TRUS检查总的诊断准确率为86.15%, T1-T4期TRUS诊断准确性分别为 93.85%、87.69%、90.77%及100%, 直肠癌癌肿浸润周径与TNM分期间呈正相关(r =0.89, P <0.01), 结合直肠癌癌肿浸润周径程度可以使直肠癌术前分期总的诊断准确率明显提高(95.38%).结论:TRUS检查对于直肠癌术前分期有较高的诊断准确性, 有助于制定合理的治疗方案,结合直肠癌组织浸润周径可提高术前分期诊断准确性.     

经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞术后原发性肝细胞癌残留状态的增强CT与超声造影比较

背景经导管肝动脉化疗栓塞术(transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, TACE)是通过微导管选择性插入至肿瘤主要供血动脉后,栓塞动脉及注入化疗药物使肿瘤发生缺血坏死,从而发挥灭活肿瘤作用.有效的TACE治疗势必引起肿瘤微循环血流灌注状态改变,而超声造影能准确反映肿瘤组织的血流灌注过程,从而实现对TACE疗效的准确评估.目的探讨运用增强CT(contrast-enhanced CT, CECT)、超声造影(contrast-enhanced ultrasound, CEUS)判定TACE后原发性肝细胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma, HCC)残留状态的临床应用价值.方法 选取2016-09/2019-03期间,在浙江省肿瘤医院行TA C E术治疗的71例患者作为研究对象,共125个病灶.所有患者TACE术后1 mo均行CEUS、CECT检查,以同期数字减影血管造影(digital subtraction angiography,DSA)检查结果作为"金标准",比较CEUS与CECT在评估TACE疗效中的应用价值.结果 DSA发现病灶残留97个,无残留28个;CEUS判定病灶残留的准确度、灵敏度、特异度分别为96.00%、96.91%、92.86%;CECT判定病灶残留的准确度、灵敏度、特异度分别88.00%、87.63%、89.29%; CEUS判定病灶残留的准确度、灵敏度均高于CECT,差异有统计学意义(P0.05).结论 CEUS能显示TACE术后HCC病灶组织的血流灌注状态,在判定病灶残留方面优于CECT,可为临床评估TACE术后疗效提供新的有效手段.     

微探头联合环扫内镜超声对直肠癌术前分期的价值

目的 评价微探头超声联合环扫内镜超声检查对直肠癌术前分期的特异性、敏感性和准确性以及判断其对直肠癌治疗方案选择的价值.方法 对2007年8月-2008年8月60例术前直肠癌患者行微探头和环扫超声内镜联合探查.参照TNM分期标准进行分期诊断,并与MRI、手术后组织病理学结果对比,总结EUS分期对治疗方案选择的参考价值.结果 在60例直肠癌患者中,EUS分期T1期4例,T2期18例,T3期30例,T4期8例,存在7例分期过度和4例分期不足;MRI分期T1期1例,T2期18例,T3期30例,T4期10例,存在14例分期过度和3例分期不足.微探头超声内镜结合环扫型超声内镜对直肠癌T分期诊断综合准确率为81.67%(49/60),N分期的准确率为78.33%,敏感性和特异性为71.43%和91.03%;MRI对直肠癌T分期准确率为71.67%(43/60),周围淋巴结转移诊断的准确率为83.33%,敏感性和特异性为85.71%和86.96%.结论 微探头联合环扫内镜超声检查是一有效估计直肠癌肠壁浸润深度并对其进行TN分期的方法,且操作简便、痛苦小、诊断准确率较高.     

CT仿真内窥镜与超声造影对结直肠癌的诊断价值

目的评价CT仿真内窥镜（CTVE）和超声造影（CEUS）在结直肠癌诊断中的价值。方法对30例结直肠癌患者术前进行CTVE和CEUS检查，将二者结果与手术后的病理结果对比。结果CTVE对结直肠癌的诊断准确率96．67％（29／30），CEUS对结直肠癌的诊断准确率为90％（27／30）。结论CTVE和CEUS可以准确显示结直肠癌病灶，有助于结直肠癌的准确诊断。     

黏膜下注射辅助超声内镜在胃癌术前T分期中的应用价值

目的探讨黏膜下注射辅助超声内镜(endoscopic ultrasonography,EUS)在胃癌术前T分期中的应用价值。方法应用EUS对80例胃癌患者进行病变处常规检查,检查完成后随即对病灶黏膜下注射甘油果糖1～4点,再进行第2次EUS检查。两次检查均记录胃癌侵犯胃壁深度(T分期)。以外科手术后病理T分期作为金标准,分别计算两组检查的T分期总准确率,并进行比较。结果注射前EUS组T分期诊断总准确率为80.0%(64/80);黏膜下注射后EUS组T分期诊断总准确率为91.3%(73/80)。两组T分期总准确率比较,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论黏膜下注射辅助EUS检查相对常规EUS检查能够更准确地判断胃癌浸润深度,对提高胃癌T分期准确率有一定的应用价值。     

增强CT与超声双重造影术前评估胃癌T分期的对比研究

背景超声双重造影(double contrast-enhanced ultrasound,DCEUS)是一种全新的胃肠道检查手段,在口服胃窗造影剂清晰显示病灶基础上,运用静脉超声造影定量分析病灶的血流灌注状态,根据胃癌组织动脉期、静脉期的显影特点以及显影范围进行T分期.目的运用DCEUS术前评估胃癌T分期状态,探讨其临床应用价值.方法选取经内镜病理证实的59例胃癌患者作为研究对象.所有患者均于术前3 d内行胃部DCEUS和腹部增强电子计算机断层扫描(computed tomography, CT)检查,分别记录T分期,并与术后病理结果比较分析.结果 DCEUS术前评估胃癌T分期的总准确率为64.41%(38/59),各期准确率分别为其中T1期:93.33%(14/15)、T2期:77.78%(7/9)、T3期70.00%(7/10)、T4期58.82%(10/17).增强CT术前评估胃癌T分期的总准确率为66.10%(39/59),各期准确率为T1期60%(9/15)、T 2期6 6.6 7%(6/9)、 T 3期8 0.0 0%(8/1 0)、 T 4期94.12%(16/17). DCEUS评估T1期的准确率高于增强CT,差异有统计学意义(P 0.05).增强CT评估T4期的准确率高于DCEUS,差异有统计学意义(P0.05).T1、T2期以DCEUS为准,T3、T4期以增强C T为准,DCEUS联合增强CT判定T分期的总准确率为76.27%(45/59).结论 DCEUS能有效术前评估胃癌T分期状态,其与增强CT比较各具优势,两者联合有助于提高T分期准确率,具有较高应用价值.     

3.0 T磁共振T2加权成像联合弥散加权成像在老年直肠癌术前TN分期中的应用价值

目的 探讨3.0T磁共振(MR)T2加权成像(T2WI)联合弥散加权成像(DWI)在老年直肠癌术前TN分期中的应用价值.方法 对经病理证实的53例老年直肠癌患者的影像资料进行回顾性分析,均行常规T2WI、DWI检查,分析MR成像(MRI)对直肠癌术前TN分期的准确性,通过Kappa法评价MRI术前诊断TN分期与术后病理分期一致性.结果 术后病理结果 显示:T1期7例,T2期11例,T3期15例,T4期20例;N0期10例,N1期28例,N2期15例.MRI T2WI对直肠癌T分期的诊断准确率为86.8%(46/53),与术后病理诊断二者一致性极好(Kappa值=0.814,P<0.05);MRI T2WI+DWI对直肠癌T分期的诊断准确率为90.6%(48/53),与MRI T2WI相比,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),与术后病理诊断一致性极好(Kappa值=0.894,P<0.05).MRI T2WI对直肠癌N分期的诊断准确率为62.3%(33/53),与术后病理学诊断一致性较差(Kappa值=0.376,P<0.05);MRI T2WI+DWI对直肠癌N分期的诊断准确率为77.4%(41/53),与MRI T2WI法诊断相比,准确性显著提高(P<0.05),与术后病理诊断病理一致性较高(Kappa值=0.621,P<0.05);直肠癌不同T、N分期的DWI测量肿瘤体积比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),其中随着T、N分期程度的增加,DWI测量肿瘤体积呈现增加的趋势(P<0.05).结论 MRI T2WI联合DWI对老年直肠癌术前T分期诊断准确率极高,对术前N分期有一定价值,可为老年直肠癌临床个体化治疗提供影像依据.     

3.0T MRI直肠癌DISTANCE评估的术前指导价值

目的探讨3.0T磁共振成像(MRI)直肠癌"DISTANCE"评估的术前指导价值。方法回顾性分析2019年8月至2020年10月四川省简阳市人民医院手术病理证实的95例直肠癌患者的临床资料,患者术前均行3.0T MRI检查。分析直肠癌T分期、N分期、环周切缘(CRM)状态、壁外血管侵犯(EMVI)状态、肿瘤下缘到肛缘距离(DIS),获取"DISTANCE"报告,并以术后病理结果为金标准,分析3.0T MRI诊断直肠癌T分期、N分期及CRM状态、EMVI状态与病理结果的一致性。结果所有患者均顺利完成MRI与病理诊断,术前MRI测量DIS结果与术后病理测量DIS结果比较差异无统计学意义(P 0.05)。MRI诊断直肠癌T1-2期、T3期、T4期的准确率分别为87.37%、85.26%、93.68%,与病理诊断一致性检验的Kappa值0.658、0.671、0.632 (P 0.01)。MRI诊断直肠癌N_0期、N_1期、N_2期的准确率分别为76.84%、74.74%、76.84%,与病理诊断一致性检验的Kappa值为0.547、0.427、0.369(P 0.01)。MRI评估直肠癌CRM状态准确率为89.47%,与病理结果比较,一致性检验的Kappa值为0.672(P 0.01)。对病理诊断的69例≥T3期直肠癌患者进行EMVI评估,发现MRI评估直肠癌EMVI状态的准确率为75.79%,与病理结果比较,一致性检验的Kappa值为0.368(P 0.01)。结论 3.0T MRI可准确描述直肠癌术前影像学分期,为直肠癌治疗方案的制定提供可靠参考。     

水囊扩张法3D经直肠腔内超声在低位直肠癌术前分期中的应用

目的评价水囊扩张法3D经直肠腔内超声（ERUS）检查在低位直肠癌术前分期中的灵敏度和特异度。 方法采用水囊扩张法对海军军医大学附属长海医院收治的72例低位直肠癌患者行术前腔内超声检查,进行术前T分期,并与手术后病理T分期进行比较,分析超声术前分期的灵敏度、特异度、过深分期和过浅分期百分比。 结果共72例患者入组,其中超声T1期直肠癌16例,T2期直肠癌23例,T3期直肠癌25例,T4期直肠癌8例。术前腔内超声诊断早期直肠癌T1、T2、T3、T4期诊断灵敏度和特异度分别为93.3%和96.5%,87.0%和93.9%,84.0%和91.5%,71.4%和95.4%。过深分期百分比为5.6%,过浅分期百分比为11.1%。 结论水囊扩张法3D经直肠腔内超声检查对低位直肠癌术前分期和手术治疗具有重要的指导意义。     

value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the differential diagnosis of gallbladder lesion

AIM To describe contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) features and evaluate differential diagnosis value of CEUS and conventional ultrasound for patients with benign and malignant gallbladder lesions. METHODS This study included 105 gallbladder lesions. Before surgical resection and pathological examination, conventional ultrasound and CEUS were performed to examine for lesions. Then, all the lesions were diagnosed as(1) benign,(2) probably benign,(3) probably malignant or(4) malignant using both conventional ultrasound and CEUS. The CEUS features of these gallbladder lesions were analyzed and diagnostic efficiency between conventional ultrasound and CEUS was compared.RESULTS There were total 17 cases of gallbladder cancer and 88 cases of benign lesion. Some gallbladder lesions had typical characteristics on CEUS(e.g., gallbladder adenomyomatosis had typical characteristics of small nonenhanced areas on CEUS). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of CEUS were 94.1%, 95.5%, 80.0%, 98.8%and 95.2%, respectively. These were significantly higher than conventional ultrasound(82.4%, 89.8%, 60.9%, 96.3% and 88.6%, respectively). CEUS had an accuracy of 100% for gallbladder sludge and CEUS helped in differential diagnosis among gallbladder polyps, gallbladder adenoma and gallbladder cancer.CONCLUSION CEUS may provide more useful information and improve the diagnosis efficiency for the diagnosis of gallbladder lesions than conventional ultrasound.     

胃癌血流灌注状态与血清血管新生指标的相关性

背景准确评估肿瘤组织的微循环血流灌注情况,对于临床治疗以及预后评估有着重要意义.超声造影(contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,CEUS)是一种敏感度极高的微循环血流监测手段,能客观反映肿瘤组织的微循环血流灌注状态,可为临床诊治提供可靠的血流动力学信息.目的运用CEUS评估胃癌(gastric cancer,GC)血流灌注状态,并探讨其与血管新生指标的相关性.方法选取在浙江医院行手术切除的66例GC患者作为研究对象(GC组).所有患者术前三天内行CEUS检查,运用时间-强度曲线测定GC组织、癌旁正常组织的增强强度、达峰时间,并采用酶联免疫吸附法(enzymelinked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)测定患者血清血管内皮生长因子(vascular endothelial growth factor,VEGF)、血管生成素-2(Angiopoietin-2,Ang-2)水平,术后测定组织标本微血管密度(microvessel density,MVD).同期选取72例健康志愿者作为对照组进行比较分析.结果GC组织的增强强度明显高于癌旁正常组织,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);GC组织的达峰时间明显短于癌旁正常组织,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);GC组织的MVD明显高于癌旁正常组织,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);GC组的VEGF、Ang-2明显高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);GC组织的增强强度分别与VEGF、Ang-2、MVD呈正相关(r=0.85,r=0.81,r=0.88,P<0.05);GC组织的达峰时间分别与VEGF、Ang-2、MVD呈负相关(r=-0.72,r=-0.73,r=-0.86,P<0.05).结论CEUS能动态评估GC血流灌注状态,其血流参数与VEGF、Ang-2、MVD相关性良好,能为临床评估GC血管新生状态提供无创性影像学手段.     

CT严重指数、超声造影联合血清降钙素原评估AP疗效

背景超声具有无创简便等优点,在急性胰腺炎病诊治中发挥着重要作用,而超声造影能通过分析胰腺微循环血流灌注,评估其缺血坏死状态,为临床诊治提供血流动力学信息.目的探讨超声造影联合血清降钙素原(procalcitonin,PCT)在评估急性胰腺炎(acute pancreatitis,AP)病情和疗效中的应用价值,及其与CT严重指数(CT severity indices,CTSI)的相关性.方法选取在我院接受治疗的AP患者作为研究对象,共63例,其中轻症AP患者38例(轻症AP组),重症AP患者25例(重症AP组).所有患者治疗前后测定血清PCT水平,行胰腺超声造影及腹部多层螺旋CT检查,记录超声造影严重指数(ultrasound severity indices,USSI)及CTSI,分析超声造影联合PCT评估疗效的可行性.结果超声造影诊断轻症AP患者37例,重症AP患者26例,敏感度=92.00%(23/25),特异度=92.11%(35/38);准确率=92.06%(58/63);重症AP组的血清PCT水平、USSI及CTSI明显高于轻症AP组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);不同治疗结局组间的血清PCT水平、USSI及CTSI比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);治疗后患者血清PCT水平、USSI分别与CTSI呈正相关(r=0.803,0.951,均P<0.05);治疗后患者血清PCT水平、USSI分别与临床疗效呈负相关(r=-0.721,-0.836,均P<0.05).结论超声造影能有效显示胰腺组织缺血坏死状态,准确反映AP病情,联合血清PCT水平可为临床全面准确评估AP病情及预后提供有价值的参考.     

Rectal endometriosis: high sensitivity and specificity of endorectal ultrasound with an impact for the operative management

Purpose In patients with histopathologically proven or suspected endometriosis with possible involvement of the rectum, endorectal ultrasound was performed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this method with regard to rectal wall involvement and the impact on the following operation. METHODS: In an historical cohort analysis, 85 females with histopathologically proven or suspected endometriosis with possible involvement of the rectum were treated between 1992 and 2001. Endorectal ultrasound was performed with a 7.5 MHz real-time unit, and results of endorectal ultrasound were compared with intraoperative findings and histopathologic diagnosis of 65 patients undergoing operation. A questionnaire was used to evaluate postoperative signs and symptoms. RESULTS: Of 65 patients undergoing surgery, 37 underwent laparotomy with 25 resections of the bowel and 28 laparoscopy. In 31 of 32 patients with suspected rectal wall infiltration, preoperative endorectal ultrasound diagnosis was confirmed. In patients in whom endorectal ultrasound showed no rectal wall involvement, histopathology revealed infiltration in one patient, leading to sensitivity of 97 percent and specificity of 97 percent with regard to rectal wall involvement. In terms of the deepness of rectal wall infiltration, endorectal ultrasound had a sensitivity of 76 percent with regard to infiltration of the muscularis propria and 66 percent for infiltration of the submucosa. Operations led to a significant (P< 0.05) reduction of preoperative symptoms by approximately 60 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Endorectal ultrasound is a useful, noninvasive technique for preoperative evaluation of possible rectal wall involvement in endometriosis. Based on the high sensitivity and specificity, recommendation for laparotomy and bowel resection in cases with suspected rectal involvement can be facilitated. Supported by the Department for General and Thoracic Surgery. University of Kiel.     

Vascular complications after adult living donor liver transplantation:Evaluation with ultrasonography

Living donor liver transplantation(LDLT) has beenwidely used to treat end-stage liver disease with improvement in surgical technology and the application of new immunosuppressants. Vascular complications after liver transplantation remain a major threat to the survival of recipients. LDLT recipients are more likely to develop vascular complications because of their complex vascular reconstruction and the slender vessels. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical for the survival of graft and recipients. As a non-invasive, cost-effective and non-radioactive method with bedside availability, conventional gray-scale and Doppler ultrasonography play important roles in identifying vascular complications in the early postoperative period and during the follow-up. Recently, with the detailed vascular tracing and perfusion visualization, contrastenhanced ultrasound(CEUS) has significantly improved the diagnosis of postoperative vascular complications. This review focuses on the role of conventional grayscale ultrasound, Doppler ultrasound and CEUS for early diagnosis of vascular complications after adult LDLT.     

Evaluation and comparison of the clinical, surgical and pathological TNM staging of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of our study was to compare the results of clinical, surgical and pathological staging of colorectal cancer. METHODOLOGY: 660 patients with colorectal carcinoma were included in the study. The results of the clinical, surgical and pathological staging were compared. RESULTS: Clinical T values were identical with the surgical in 75.15%, and with the pathological in 74.54% respectively. Surgical T values were identical with the clinical in 78.48%. In 67.27% of the cases the clinical evaluation of N value was identical with the surgical one. Clinical evaluation was identical with the pathological result in 60.60% of the cases. Surgical diagnosis of the lymph node metastasis matched the pathological finding in 76.66%. Regarding the M value, the coincidence of the diagnoses was as follows: clinical versus pathological 72.72%, surgical versus pathological 90.90%. Clinical and surgical TNM stages were by 79.09% in accordance. By decision of total TNM stage the clinical-pathological staging showed worse (76.06%), while surgical-pathological showed significantly better (88.48%) matching. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results we can state that in a quarter of all colorectal cancer cases the extent of the primary tumor could not have been established correctly. The lymph node involvement was well defined in just over half of the cases only. The M values were accurately stated in about three quarters of the cases. High grade of conformity of clinical, surgical and pathological staging can result in better treatment-planning, short- and long-term survival, and higher quality of life.     

虚拟导航超声造影与常规超声造影检查肝硬化背景小肝癌的诊断价值比较

目的探讨虚拟导航超声造影与常规超声造影检查肝硬化背景小肝癌的诊断效能。方法 45例肝硬化患者经增强CT/MRI检查提示肝内局灶性结节共计68个,全部病灶均经病理检查确诊,其中小肝癌45个,肝硬化结节(非小肝癌)23个。分别行常规超声造影检查及虚拟导航超声造影检查,计算2种方法的灵敏度、特异度及正确率等指标。结果常规超声造影诊断小肝癌的灵敏度、特异度及正确率依次为60.0%、69.5%和63.2%,虚拟导航超声造影依次为86.6%、78.3%和83.8%。虚拟导航超声造影诊断小肝癌的灵敏度、特异度和正确率高于常规超声造影(P均<0.05)。结论虚拟导航超声造影可检出常规超声造影不易检出的肝硬化结节背景下小肝癌,为临床诊断提供有效支持。     

超声造影评估2型糖尿病骨骼肌微循环功能的研究

目的探讨超声造影(CEUS)对评估T2DM合并微血管病变骨骼肌微循环及动脉灌注储备的临床应用价值。方法选取2016年10月至2017年1月于我院内分泌科确诊的单纯T2DM患者(T2DM组)10例,T2DM合并微血管病变患者(T2DM+MC组)12例,另选取10名同期我院体检健康人群为正常对照(NC)组。短暂动脉闭塞前后分别进行CEUS观察各组小腿腓肠肌血流灌注情况,分析预选的感兴趣区小动脉、肌肉组织和小静脉,获取时间-强度曲线、造影剂到达时间、造影剂渡越时间(CTTs)等灌注参数。检测各组FPG、C-P、胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)、HbA1c、D-二聚体、C-RP等。结果短暂动脉闭塞前,T2DM+MC组部分CTTs较T2DM、NC组延长(P<0.05)。短暂动脉阻塞后,T2DM+MC组CTTs较T2DM、NC组延长(P<0.05),T2DM、NC组动脉到肌肉(△A-M)、动脉到静脉(△A-V)、肌肉到静脉(△M-V)及T2DM+MC组△A-M的CTTs较闭塞前缩短(P<0.05),而T2DM+MC组△A-V、△M-V的CTTs较闭塞前差异无统计学意义。Pearson相关性分析显示,HOMA-IR、HbA1c、D-二聚体与M-V、A-V及△M-V、△A-V的CTTs呈正相关(P<0.01)。结论CEUS结合短暂动脉闭塞一定程度上可评价T2DM微血管病变患者骨骼肌微循环障碍及动脉储备功能。微循环障碍及动脉储备功能可能与HOMA-IR及相关参数异常有关。     

Endoscopic ultrasound staging of rectal cancer: diagnostic value before and following chemoradiation

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been shown to be a reliable tool for staging rectal cancer. Nevertheless, the accuracy of EUS after chemoradiation remains unclear; therefore the purpose of the present paper was to compare the accuracy of EUS staging for rectal cancer before and following chemoradiation. METHODS: Patients with rectal cancer undergoing EUS staging were stratified into two groups. Group I consisted of 66 patients who underwent surgery following EUS staging without preoperative chemoradiation. Group II consisted of 25 patients who had EUS evaluation following chemoradiation. The EUS staging was compared to surgical/pathological staging. RESULTS: The accuracy of the T staging for group I was 86% (57/66). Inaccurate staging was mainly associated with overstaging EUS T2 tumors. The accuracy of the N staging for group I was 71% (47/66). The accuracy of EUS for a composite T and N staging relevant to treatment decisions in group I was 91%. In group II, the accuracy of T and N staging was 72% (18/25) and 80% (20/25), respectively. Overstaging EUS T3 tumors accounted for most inaccurate staging. The EUS staging predicted post-chemoradiation T0N0 stage correctly in only 50% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative staging of rectal cancer by EUS is a useful modality in determining the need for preoperative chemoradiation. The EUS T staging following chemoradiation appears to be less accurate. Detection of complete response may be insufficient for selecting patients for limited surgical intervention.