Endosonography of anal canal diseases

Anal endosonography became a valuable imaging method for diagnosis of anal diseases because of its accessibility, relative simplicity of performance, and low cost. It is used most often to detect anal sphincter defects, to classify anal fistulas and perianal abscesses, and to stage anal tumors. This review presents a normal anatomy of the anal canal, examination technique, and normal endosonographic anatomy of anal sphincters. The endosonographic findings of anal sepsis, malignancy, trauma, abnormalities in Crohn disease, and ulcerative colitis, as well as the role for anal endosonography among other imaging modalities, are discussed.