[Rectal cancer. Staging with transrectal ultrasonography]

30 patients with carcinoma of the rectum were examined preoperatively with endoluminal rectal ultrasound and digital examination in order to assess the stage of the tumour. The results were compared with the histopathological findings in the resected specimens from 23 patients. The following operations were performed: 11 abdominoperineal rectal amputations, five low anterior resections and seven local excisions. Discrepancies between the ultrasonic and histological staging occurred in seven patients, six tumours were overstaged and one understaged ultrasonically. Digital assessment overstaged eight tumours and understaged two. The ultrasonic examination provided additional information in 12 patients.