[Potential ultrasonic study in the early diagnosis of rectal cancer recurrence]

The paper is concerned with the results of ultrasonic tomography carried out in 487 radically-operated cases of rectal cancer. Tumor was detected in 103 out of 136 patients with clinically manifest recurrence (76.9%) (group 1). False-negative reports were made in 19 cases of intraintestinal relapse (14.2%). The procedure provided most information in male patients who had undergone extirpation of the rectum; a correct diagnosis was made in 86.2%. In application of ultrasonic tomography, early tumor recurrence was detected in 67 out of 353 surgical cases with unfavorable prognosis who were free of relapse symptoms (18.9%) (group 2). Misinterpretation of data obtained by complex scanning procedures may be avoided thanks to application of "real-time" regimen.