Endoanal Ultrasound is of Little Value in Follow-Up of Anal Carcinomas

PURPOSE: The treatment of anal carcinoma has a vigorous follow-up regimen, and several authors have stated that endoanal ultrasound is a useful and necessary part of this regimen. This study was designed to evaluate the value of endoanal ultrasound in follow-up of anal carcinoma. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 82 patients were treated between 1983 and 1999. Main outcome measures were five-year survival and local recurrence rates, and in particular, it was focused on how local recurrences have been detected. RESULTS: Overall five-year survival was 68 percent. Fourteen patients (17 percent) developed local recurrence. Despite an estimated number of 780 scheduled endoanal ultrasound examinations, all the local recurrences were detected by digital and visual examination before the ultrasound procedures. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, all the local recurrences of anal carcinoma were detected by digital and visual examination. Thus, the addition of endoanal ultrasound was costly and unnecessary.