[Preoperative instrumental diagnosis of rectal carcinoma. Value of various methods with reference to therapeutic...

A retrospective analysis of 238 patients with rectal cancer undergoing primary surgery was performed in respect of preoperative diagnostic examinations. It is shown that stage-adjusted therapeutic approaches (e.g. peranal rectal excision, preoperative radiotherapy, or palliative surgery) can be pin-pointed with a high degree of certainty using colonoscopy, endorectal ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound. With the possible exception of selected patients with far-advanced rectal cancer there is no need for intravenous pyelography or computed tomography of the abdomen or lower pelvis.