Diagnosis of Lower Gastrointestinal Tumors by Transvaginal Sonography

Abstract

Sonography plays a primary role in the diagnosis of gynecological diseases. A retrospective review of incidental findings report by transvaginal sonography (TVS) was performed to evaluate the ability of TVS to visualize rectosigmoid carcinoma. The authors performed a retrospective review of 450 women who were referred for TVS because of suspected gynecological indications to evaluate those with incidental findings. Of these, 15 with incidental findings were subsequently diagnosed with rectosigmoid carcinoma. The sonographic properties and clinical findings were systematically evaluated. TVS findings included solid nonhomogeneous lesions (mean diameter of 4 cm; range, 1.6-8 cm), distended rectal walls, and gas inside the gastrointestinal lumen in 53% (n = 8) of the cases. Total wall invasion was suspected, and signs of edema were noticed in 60% (n = 9) of the cases. All lesions seen by TVS were pathologically confirmed as carcinoma of gastrointestinal origin. Inspection of the rectosigmoid during a TVS examination has the ability to detect unsuspected rectosigmoid lesions.