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Review
. 2022 Oct 17;10(10):E1417-E1426.
doi: 10.1055/a-1922-6500. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Practical approach to linear endoscopic ultrasound examination of the rectum and anal canal

Hussein Hassan Okasha  1 , Katarzyna M Pawlak  2 , Amr Abou-Elmagd  3 , Ahmed El-Meligui  1 , Hassan Atalla  4 , Mohamed O Othman  5 , Sameh Abou Elenin  6 , Ahmed Alzamzamy  6 , Reem Ezzat Mahdy  7
Affiliations
Review

Practical approach to linear endoscopic ultrasound examination of the rectum and anal canal

Hussein Hassan Okasha et al. Endosc Int Open. .

Abstract

Standard endosonographic examination of the rectal area is usually performed with radial endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). However, in recent years, widespread availability of linear EUS for assessing various anatomical regions in the gastrointestinal tract has facilitated its use in the assessment of anorectal disorders. Currently, many rectal and anal diseases, including perianal abscesses, fistulae, polyps, and neoplastic lesions, can be well-visualized and evaluated with linear EUS. The aim of this review is to shed light on the anatomy and systematic examination of the anorectal region with linear EUS and clinical implications for different anorectal pathologies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Diagram of the anatomy of the rectum and anal canal .
Fig. 2 a
Fig. 2 a
Diagram of the anatomy of the rectal region. b Linear EUS examination of the rectal region.
Fig. 3 a
Fig. 3 a
Diagram of the anatomy of the anorectal region at 4 cm from the anal verge. b Linear EUS examination of the anorectal region at 4 cm from the anal verge.
Fig. 4 a
Fig. 4 a
Diagram of the anatomy of the anal canal region. b Linear EUS examination of the anal canal region
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Different types of perianal fistulae.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
An extra-sphincteric (high) fistulous tract with hyperechoic air dots extending from a rectal mass into the urinary bladder.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Endoscopic view of the internal opening of a recto-vesical fistula.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Thickened irregular rectal wall with extraluminal extension in a patient with severe proctitis due to colonic Crohn’s disease.
Fig. 9
Fig. 9
T3 rectal carcinoma.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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