Transrectal Ultrasonography of a Small Rectal Carcinoid Tumor with Lymph Node Metastasis: A Case Report

A 27-year-old woman with a small rectal carcinoid tumor wasexamined by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) for preoperativestaging. TRUS revealed regional lymph node involvement, in additionto a 10-mm hypoechoic tumor invading into, but not through,the submucosa. The lymph node involvement was confirmed preoperativelyby TRUS-guided needle biopsy. Although the digital examinationfindings indicated local excision was appropriate, in accordancewith TRUS and TRUS-guided biopsy findings, the patient underwentradical surgery. The TRUS findings of lymph node involvementand depth of invasion were confirmed histologically. The patientis alive and disease-free 35 months postoperatively. These observationssuggest that TRUS reveals the regional lymph node involvementand the depth of invasion of rectal carcinoid tumors accuratelyand, therefore, helps in selecting appropriate treatment.