[Preoperative diagnosis of metastatic involvement of perirectal lymph nodes]

Condition of perirectal lymph nodes was examined by endorectal sonography in 93 patients with rectal cancer prior to surgery. Precision of diagnosis of involvement by endorectal sonography was 62.5% and depended on the size of lymph node. There was a sizable correlation between the sensitivity of the procedure and the number of involved lymph nodes: it reached 80% when 3 or more nodes were involved. Preoperative assessment of the perirectal lymph nodes helped correct the extent and procedure of operation.