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. 2016 Nov 19;11(1):418-425.
doi: 10.1515/med-2016-0074. eCollection 2016.

Learning curve for endorectal ultrasound in young and elderly: lights and shades

Alessandra Surace  1 , Alessia Ferrarese  2 , Valentina Gentile  1 , Marco Bindi  1 , Jacopo Cumbo  1 , Mario Solej  1 , Stefano Enrico  1 , Valter Martino  1
Affiliations

Learning curve for endorectal ultrasound in young and elderly: lights and shades

Alessandra Surace et al. Open Med (Wars). .

Abstract

Aim of the study is to highlight difficulties faced by an inexperienced surgeon in approaching endorectal-ultrasound, trying to define when learning curve can be considered complete. A prospective analysis was conducted on endorectal-ultrasound performed for subperitoneal rectal adenocarcinoma staging in the period from January 2008 to July 2013, reported by a single surgeon of Department of Oncology, Section of General Surgery, "San Luigi Gonzaga" Teaching Hospital, Orbassano (Turin, Italy); the surgeon had no previous experience in endorectal-ultrasound. Fourty-six endorectal-ultrasounds were divided into two groups: early group (composed by 23 endorectal-ultrasounds, made from January 2008 to May 2009) and late group (composed by 23 endorectal-ultrasound, carried out from June 2009 to July 2013). In our experience, the importance of a learning curve is evident for T staging, but no statystical significance is reached for results deal with N stage. We can conclude that ultrasound evaluation of anorectal and perirectal tissues is technically challenging and requires a long learning curve. Our learning curve can not be closed down, at least for N parameter.

Keywords: Endorectal; Learning curve; Pittfalls; Ultrasound.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement: Authors state no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Balloon shape according to anoscope length
Figure 2
Figure 2
Reverberation
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mirror image
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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