Indications and Results of Endoanal Ultrasonography in Anal Pathology

Abstract

Anal disease encompasses a diverse array of disorders, including conditions such as sphincter defects, anorectal fistulas and abscesses, unexplained chronic anal pain. The objective of this study is to assess the diagnostic value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the context of anal diseases. A total of 58 patients who benefited from an EUS, over a period between January 2018 and april 2023. Mean age was 43,4 years with a sex ratio (M: F) of 0.4. The main indication for EUS is dominated by fecal incontinence (FI) in 53% of patients, followed by the anoperineal manifestations of Crohn's disease in 22%. Among patients with perineal Crohn's disease (CD), fistulas were observed in 47% of CD cases. anovaginal or rectovaginal fistulas (ARVFs) were visualized in 9% of all cases. In patients presenting with fecal incontinence (FI), EUS identified defects in the internal and external anal sphincters. EUS is a highly sensitive technique for assessing anal anatomy and diagnosing of anal diseases.