Jw. Milsom et al., PREOPERATIVE BIOPSY OF PARARECTAL LYMPH-NODES IN RECTAL-CANCER USING ENDOLUMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY, Diseases of the colon & rectum, 37(4), 1994, pp. 364-368
PURPOSE: Because definitive information regarding lymph node status in
rectalcancer would be valuable preoperatively, we evaluated the safet
y, feasibility, and accuracy of performing endoluminal ultrasound-guid
ed biopsies of pararectal lymph nodes in 26 rectal cancer patients. Bi
opsies were compared with the pararectal tissues removed at surgery. M
ETHODS: Using a longitudinally oriented 7.0-MHz ultrasound probe and a
n 18-gauge spring-loaded core biopsy needle, patients underwent biopsi
es of lymph nodes detected ultrasonographically without complications.
RESULTS: A biopsy of adenocarcinoma was obtained in 13 patients, lymp
hoid material in 5 patients, and irrelevant material in 8 patients. Ac
curacy rate (true positives divided by number of procedures) was 77 pe
rcent, with a sensitivity of 71 percent, a specificity of 89 percent,
a positive predictive value of 92 percent, and a negative predictive v
alue of 62 percent. Whenadenocarcinoma or lymphoid material was obtain
ed, there was only one false positive and one false negative. CONCLUSI
ON: Endoluminal ultrasonography-guided lymph node biopsy is simple and
safe, and when adenocarcinoma or lymphoid material is obtained on bio
psy, clinical decision making can be based on this information.