Transrectal Ultrasound for Colon and Rectal Cancers

Chemotherapy or radiation therapy is used to treat any cancer cells remaining after the tumor has been surgically removed. Determining if the cancer was completely removed or if some cells remain was difficult with older technology. Oncologists feel that, without complete information, it is better to assume that some cancer remains than risk a reoccurance. Transrectal ultrasound gives oncologists the ability to stage a cancer much more accurately

In this procedure, an ultrasound probe is placed into the rectum, allowing the doctor to examine the rectal tumor and lymph nodes. Ultrasound uses sound pulses to make a reading of the body, and makes it possible to observe the spread of tumor into the wall of the rectum and into adjacent lymph nodes.This technique enables proper selection of patients for therapy.

Patients with early stage disease are treated surgically, and if the final pathology report confirms that the tumor has not spread, radiation and chemotherapy are not given. Patients with advanced tumors are given radiation and chemotherapy to make the later treatment more effective prior to surgery, called neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant therapy reduces the chance of the tumor coming back and improves surgical margins (the area of healthy tissue that surrounds the tumor). Transrectal ultrasound is performed by the Department of Surgical Oncology. More information about this procedure is available at their website.