BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a technique that is well established in gastroenterology for @entity5 staging, but so far very few data have been reported concerning the staging of anal @entity189 using EUS. The aim of this study is to underline the value of EUS in the staging and follow-up of @entity189 . @entity1 AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 30 consecutive @entity1 with @entity189 of the anal canal (nine @entity1 , 21 @entity1 ) were examined using EUS, and the @entity5 were classified according to the 1985 TNM classification. EUS was carried out either before the start of treatment (15 @entity1 ); after the initial treatment in order to plan further treatment; or during follow-up examinations (15 @entity1 ). The treatment given was based on the results of the EUS examination. RESULTS: The following @entity5 stages were diagnosed: four lesions in stage uT0, seven in stage @entity3836 , seven in stage @entity3837 , nine in stage uT3, and three in stage uT4. In seven @entity1 , suspect lymph nodes were also detected by EUS. In all but three of the @entity1 (lost to follow-up), EUS had a direct impact on the treatment selected. Depending on the @entity5 stage, @entity1 either underwent surgery (four @entity1 : one @entity3836 , one @entity3837 , two uT3); received radiotherapy alone (five @entity1 : three @entity3837 , two uT3); combined chemoradiotherapy (eight @entity1 : three @entity3837 , three uT3, two uT4); interstitial booster radiotherapy (four @entity1 : three @entity3836 , one uT3); or no therapy at all (six @entity1 : four uT0, one uT3, one uT4), respectively. In two @entity1 , the @entity5 was understaged at EUS: in one, a @entity3836 @entity5 proved to be a pT2 @entity5 , and in the other, a uT3 @entity5 proved to be a pT4 @entity5 . CONCLUSIONS: The advantage of EUS in the staging of @entity5 is that it allows precise assessment of the depth of infiltration and @entity5 spread into adjacent tissue, facilitating the choice of stage-dependent treatment decisions-particularly in determining the extent of interstitial booster radiotherapy needed. It also allows follow-up examinations after the initial treatment, with fine-needle aspiration biopsies of suspicious areas. Wider acceptance of this method might further decrease the performance of extensive surgery, with the impaired quality of life associated with rectal amputation. In addition, it might allow improved quality control of the various treatment modalities.

Endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis, staging, and follow-up of anal XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['women', 'patients', 'PATIENTS', 'men'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', 'anal cancer', 'tumors'] @entity3837 :: ('8170', 'Gene') :: ['uT2'] @entity189 :: ('MESH:D002277', 'Disease') :: ['carcinomas', 'anal carcinoma', 'carcinoma'] @entity3836 :: ('6563', 'Gene') :: ['uT1']
@entity189 :: (MESH:D002277,Disease) :: ['carcinomas']
