Use of intra-rectal ultrasound with color Doppler and Doppler flow analysis in differentiation of benign and malignant rectal disease

• Published in: European journal of ultrasound 1996, Vol.3 (1), p.25-32
• Main Authors: Joosten, Frank B.M., Jansen, Jan B.M.J., Joosten, Harry J.M., Rosenbusch, Gerd
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Digestive system. Abdomen; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Medical sciences; Rectum; Rectum, neoplasm; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasound, Doppler study
• ISSN: 0929-8266
• DOI: 10.1016/0929-8266(95)00129-8

Objective: Assessment of the efficacy of intra-rectal ultrasound with color Doppler and Doppler flow analysis in detecting possible differences in blood flow patterns between malignant and benign rectal diseases. Subjects and methods: During a period of 12 months, 28 consecutive patients with benign (9 patients) and malignant (19 patients) rectal and perirectal diseases were prospectively evaluated with intra-rectal gray scale and color Doppler ultrasound and Doppler flow analysis. Results: Color Doppler flow showed hypervascularity in 4 of the 9 patients (44%) with benign disease and in 17 of 19 cases with carcinoma (89%). In 24 patients a Doppler flow spectrum could be assessed. The mean resistance index (RI) for the group with rectal carcinoma ( n = 19) was 0.78 ranging from 0.56 to 1 and was significantly different ( P < 0.005) from that of the group with benign diseases ( n = 5, mean RI 0.58, ranging from 0.43 to 0.7). Conclusions: This preliminary work suggests that color Doppler and Doppler flow analysis may have value in differentiating malignant from benign rectal disease; however, considerable overlap in RI data exists.