EFSUMB Recommendations for Gastrointestinal Ultrasound Part 3: Endorectal, Endoanal and Perineal Ultrasound

Abstract

This article represents part 3 of the EFSUMB Recommendations and Guidelines for Gastrointestinal Ultrasound (GIUS). It provides an overview of the examination techniques recommended by experts in the field of endorectal/endoanal ultrasound (ERUS/EAUS), as well as perineal ultrasound (PNUS). The most important indications are rectal tumors and inflammatory diseases like fistula and abscesses in patients with or without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). PNUS sometimes is more flexible and convenient compared to ERUS. However, the technique of ERUS is quite well established, especially for the staging of rectal cancer. EAUS also gained ground in the evaluation of perianal diseases like fistulas, abscesses and incontinence. For the staging of perirectal tumors, the use of PNUS in addition to conventional ERUS could be recommended. For the staging of anal carcinomas, PNUS can be a good option because of the higher resolution. Both ERUS and PNUS are considered excellent guidance methods for invasive interventions, such as the drainage of fluids or targeted biopsy of tissue lesions. For abscess detection and evaluation, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) also helps in therapy planning.

Introduction

This article represents part 3 of the European Federation of Societies for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) Recommendations and Guidelines for Gastrointestinal Ultrasound (GIUS). It provides an overview of the examination techniques recommended by experts in the field for EndoRectal (ERUS), EndoAnal UltraSound (EAUS) and PeriNeal UltraSound (PNUS). Concerning ERUS, various other terms are used in the literature for the same technique, including transrectal ultrasound (TRUS), anorectal ultrasound (ARUS), and endoanorectal ultrasound (EARUS). Due to standardization of the guideline, we preferred the arbitrary distinction between ERUS and EAUS, with these being the abbreviations used in the manuscript.

Part 3 of the Guidelines for GastroIntestinal Ultrasound (GIUS) provides an overview of the examination of the anorectum and the perineal region with the techniques of ERUS, EAUS, as well as PNUS. PNUS is a method characterized as effective, inexpensive, safe, available everywhere and associated with minimal pain, mostly because it is noninvasive and does not need a special application set or probe. However, it is also a rarely used diagnostic tool in daily practice. In contrast, the ERUS technique is quite well established, especially for the staging of rectal cancer. EAUS has also gained ground in the evaluation of anorectal diseases like fistulas, abscesses and incontinence.

For each recommendation, levels of evidence (LoE) and grades of recommendation (GoR) were included to evaluate the clinical role in various applications. These were assigned according to the criteria of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine ( http://www.cebm.net/oxford-centre-evidencebased-medicine-levels-evidence-march-2009/ ). The manuscript and voting have been finalized by e-mail communication. A total number of 22 figures with 40 individual images accompany this manuscript.

Endorectal Ultrasound

Anatomy and sonoanatomy

Endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) provides high-resolution examination of the rectal wall with clear visualization of its 5 layers closely reproducing the anatomic layers. The innermost hyperechoic line is the resulting interface between the transducer/water-filled balloon and the superficial mucosa. A hypoechoic layer follows, representing the mucosa and muscularis mucosa. The second hyperechoic submucosal layer is followed by another hypoechoic layer which is the muscularis propria. Lastly, another hyperechoic layer represents the interface between the rectal wall and surrounding fatty tissue, or represents the serosa in the peritoneal part of the rectum. Further differentiation of the rectal wall layers is possible with high-frequency (HF) transducers which are able to separate the inner circular and the external longitudinal layers of the muscularis propria. When staging rectal tumors, i. e., located up to 15 cm from the anal verge, ERUS clearly depicts the iso- or hypoechoic invasion of the tumor which disrupts the normal echo-layer pattern. For orientation, anterior anatomic structures (prostate, seminal vesicles, urinary bladder, vagina and uterus) should be identified. With radial scanners these are usually placed at the 12 o’clock position on the ultrasound image. Surrounding lymph nodes are recognized as round or oval hypoechoic structures as compared to the perirectal tissue ^{1 2} .

Examination technique

For an accurate ERUS examination, the rectum needs to be properly cleaned to avoid artifacts from residual stool. For this purpose, a cleansing enema is routinely given before the procedure, although a full-bowel preparation may be used to optimize imaging. The examination is performed with the patient in the left lateral decubitus or lithotomy (gynecological) position. Sedation is usually not necessary as it is a well-tolerated procedure ³ . A digital rectal examination and at least a rectosigmoidoscopy should precede ERUS examination, especially for tumor staging, in order to describe the size and location of the lesion. A thorough examination of the tumor by flexible sigmoidoscopy prior to ERUS will facilitate a targeted approach to areas of suspected invasion.

Either rigid blind rectal probes or flexible echoendoscopes enabling radial or linear scanning may be used, with ultrasound frequencies ranging between 5 MHz and 15 MHz. End-fire probes like those used for prostate examinations may also be used, especially for proximal tumors and lymph node evaluation. These are incrementally adjusted according to the desired resolution and depth of penetration ¹ . Rigid blind rectal probes are commonly used in clinical practice due to their lower costs and availability. Flexible echoendoscopes may be advanced under visual control up to the level of the tumor and are able to pass through narrower lumens of stenosing tumors. Comparative studies between the 2 types of devices are currently limited and have shown contradictory results for rectal cancer staging ^{4 5 6} . Both types of probes (rigid and flexible) do have the possibility of examining the iliac lymph nodes at about 20–25 cm from the anal verge. Malignant invasion at this level indicates an M1 stage which consequently alters patient management ⁷ . For interventional procedures, a linear echoendoscope or an end-fire probe is necessary to allow needle passage under direct ultrasound visualization ^{1 2} . High-resolution miniprobes which can be passed through the working channel of standard colonoscopes are also an option, because they are able to pass obstructive tumors. On the other hand, the limited in-depth penetration makes these probes less convenient for staging more advanced cancers ⁸ .

For rectal cancer examination, the ERUS rigid probe/flexible echoendoscope should be advanced beyond the targeted lesion, whenever possible. Acoustic coupling for optimal imaging is achieved by successive water instillation and deflation of air. A water-filled balloon covering the transducer may also be used. It must be carefully adjusted to avoid tumor compression and false findings ⁹ . Ultrasound examination is performed during slow withdrawal down to the level of the anal verge. The maximum depth of tumor invasion into the rectal wall should be noted as well as involvement of surrounding structures. Any peri-tumoral lymph nodes should be characterized by their size, shape and echo-structure. Ultrasound classification follows the international TNM staging system, adding the ‘u’ prefix for recognition ( Fig. 1 ) ^{1 2} .

Fig. 1.

a Biopsy proven circumferential rectal adenocarcinoma visualized endoscopically at 8 cm from the anal verge (red arrows). b Radial endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) showed the hypoechoic mass (red arrows) extending beyond the muscularis propria in the perirectal fat (uT3) (courtesy of Adrian Săftoiu, Elena Tatiana Ivan).

Recommendation 1: Either rigid probes or flexible echoendoscopes can be used for the evaluation of rectal lesions, depending on availability and local expertise. LoE 1b, GoR B (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Special techniques

The use of contrast enhancement has brought significant improvements in ultrasound examination protocols and better characterization of lesions based on their perfusion pattern. With the use of second-generation microbubble contrast agents and recent technology improvements, even low-velocity flow micro-vessels can be detected. Additional post-processing software applications provide quantitative measurements of vascularization based on time-intensity curve analysis, generating several objective parameters as a measure of blood flow and volume in a selected region of interest. Consequently, multiple clinical indications have been described for contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and also further research directions, including the study of tumor angiogenesis ^{10 11} .

Contrast enhancement during EUS (CE-EUS) has been used mainly for differentiating pancreatic lesions based on their vascular pattern ¹¹ , while data regarding its use in colorectal lesions is currently limited. Only a couple of studies have reported the possibility of using CE-EUS for the evaluation of rectal tumor vascularity ( Fig. 2 ). These have shown different perfusion patterns between rectal cancers, rectal adenomas and inflammatory lesions ¹² . Likewise, weak correlations have been described between the parameters resulting from time-intensity curve analysis of the CE-EUS sequences, such as enhanced peak intensity and microvascular density with histological grading ^{13 14} . Based on further research, CE-EUS might offer valuable functional information on tumor angiogenesis with a potential impact on the prognosis and management of rectal cancer patients.

Fig. 2.

Contrast-enhanced radial endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) showing a hyperenhanced (hypervascular) semi-circumferential rectal tumor (red arrows), with an area of un-enhanced central necrosis (courtesy of Adrian Săftoiu, Elena Tatiana Ivan).

Ultrasound-based elastography assessment is a relatively novel approach to rectal tumor evaluation. The method is already used in clinical practice for other organs ^{15 16} . The principle of ultrasound elastography assessment of rectal tumors is the change in tumor hardness caused by malignant transformation. There are multiple elastography methods, but to date only strain elastography (quasi static elastography) has been tested for the endoluminal staging of rectal tumors, although point shear wave elastography has shown promise using the transperineal approach ^{17 18} . Strain elastography enables visualization and semi-quantification of tissue elasticity by generating a color-coded map which is superimposed onto a B-mode image. The subsequent elastography assessment can be performed by a semiquantitative strain ratio measurement, or by subjective assessment of the elastogram using a continuous visual analog score (VAS) and/or a categorical W-score ^{19 20} . It has been shown that ERUS elastography is able to differentiate adenomas from adenocarcinomas with a higher accuracy as compared to ERUS and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) ²¹ . The method cannot be used to further improve the differentiation of T2-T4 stages, but a combined elastography and ERUS algorithm has been shown to significantly improve the identification of tumors eligible for local resection compared to standard clinical evaluation with ERUS and MRI ²² . ERUS elastography can be used for the evaluation of perirectal lymph nodes ( Fig. 3 ), although no systematic studies have been published to the best of our knowledge.

Fig. 3.

Radial endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) elastography showing a hard (low strain) perirectal lymph node (red arrows) in a patient with concomitant rectal adenocarcinoma. A balloon surrounding the transducer is inflated with water to improve acoustic coupling with the rectal wall (courtesy of Adrian Săftoiu, Elena Tatiana Ivan).

Indications

Diagnosis and staging of rectal tumors

Rectal cancer is staged according to the 8 ^th AJCC Staging Manual for TNM classification ²³ . MRI is considered mandatory and the first-choice technique for the staging and re-staging of advanced rectal cancer, as mentioned in the radiological guidelines ²⁴ . Nevertheless, ERUS is regarded as a fast, safe and accurate imaging method for the diagnosis and staging of rectal cancer, complementing the results of MRI. ERUS has also been used for more than 3 decades with the main indications being the assessment of the local spread of rectal tumors at initial diagnosis (T and N staging) in correlation to the TNM classification and during patient follow-up ^{1 2} . As a consequence of the staging procedure, ERUS is able to indicate the treatment pathway for patients to follow-up in both early and locally advanced stages ( Fig. 4 5 ) by determining the type of primary resection and whether neoadjuvant chemoradiation is necessary.

Fig. 4.

ab Hypoechoic tumor mass (red arrows) extending beyond the muscularis propria layer (T3), examined with a rigid end-fire probe (courtesy of Søren Rafaelsen).

Fig. 5.

a Advanced rectal tumor visualized endoscopically as a large vegetating tumor. b Radial endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) delineates the tumor as a hypoechoic mass extending beyond the muscularis propria (red arrows) but with clear delimitation from the prostate (T3) (courtesy of Adrian Săftoiu, Elena Tatiana Ivan).

Studies available from the literature have reported very good performance of ERUS regarding the pre-therapeutic assessment of the depth of tumor invasion, with sensitivities and specificities ranging between 80–96%, and 80–98%, respectively, as shown by meta-analyses ^{25 26} . ERUS is the best documented examination for classifying early rectal lesions ²⁷ , either confined to the mucosa (sensitivity and specificity ~ 97%) which may be referred for endoscopic resection ( Fig. 6 7 ) ²⁸ or submucosal cancers (accuracy ~ 95%) suitable for transanal endoscopic microsurgery in selected cases (pT1sm1) ^{29 30} . Due to its limited in-depth ultrasound penetration, ERUS is less accurate in depicting the mesorectal fascia, an important predictor of local recurrence which is better evaluated by MRI ²⁷ . Especially for the staging of early tumors considered for local excision, ERUS should be used additionally to MRI due to its superior diagnostic performance for differentiating T1 from T2 tumors ( Fig. 6 7 ) ^{23 28} .

Fig. 6.

a Histological proven, endoscopically resected T1 rectal adenocarcinoma (red arrows). b Early rectal adenocarcinoma (uT1) limited to the submucosa, visualized by endorectal strain elastography as a hard (low strain) mass at 12 to 1 o’clock (courtesy of Eike Burmester, Frank Pfeffer).

Fig. 7.

ab Early rectal neuroendocrine tumor visualized endoscopically as a small mass with normal appearing mucosa, completely resected by endoscopic mucosal resection. cd Radial endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) delineates the small tumor (red arrows) as a hypoechoic mass, hard by elastography, limited to the mucosa, with clear demarcation from the submucosa and muscularis propria (T1). Water has been instilled in the balloon covering the ultrasound transducer, as well as in the rectum for better acoustic coupling between the transducer and rectal structures (courtesy of Adrian Săftoiu, Elena Tatiana Ivan).

There is a learning curve for practicing ERUS examination ^{31 32} and the accuracy is at a stable level only after 50 scans ³³ . Consequently, results from a multicenter study including 7096 patients from more than 300 hospitals, which were mostly centers with a low case load volume, did not achieve the high accuracy reported in the literature ³⁴ .

It is difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant lymph nodes using ERUS ³⁵ , even for experienced users. Moderate sensitivities (57–73%) and specificities (76–80%) have been reported by several meta-analyses ^{26 36 37 38} . However, none of the currently available imaging methods (MRI and CT) can provide more reliable information on lymph node status ³⁸ . ERUS-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) enables pathology confirmation of suspicious perirectal lymph nodes, but it is rarely performed since the needle must pass the primary tumor. Also, a real impact on patient management as compared to ERUS alone has not been demonstrated ⁹ . ERUS-FNA biopsy seems highly accurate for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer recurrences ³⁹ , as it may impact therapeutic decisions ⁴⁰ .

Conventional ERUS is not useful in the re-staging after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy ^{41 42} . Even for experienced endosonographers, the inflammation and fibrosis induced by radiotherapy are difficult to differentiate from malignant tissue, resulting in a low diagnostic accuracy. Sonographic definition and comparison with previous ultrasound findings for the lesion can be advised in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy ⁴³ .

Recommendation 2: ERUS can be used in the pre-therapeutic staging of rectal cancer, especially in early rectal tumors with an indication for local resection, due to its ability to better differentiate T1 and T2 stages. LoE 1b, GoR B (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Recommendation 3: ERUS alone cannot currently be recommended for assessing lymph node involvement in rectal cancer patients, due to its moderate accuracy for differential diagnosis between benign and malignant lymph nodes. LoE 1a, GoR A (For 12, Abstain 1, Against 2)

Recommendation 4: Proper training is recommended before practicing ERUS for the staging of rectal cancer. LoE 2b, GoR B (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Recommendation 5: ERUS-FNA biopsy can be recommended for diagnosing perirectal lesions in patients with a history of colorectal cancer, as it may impact therapeutic decisions . LoE 2b, GoR B (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions

ERUS-guided intervention by means of biopsy or drainage can be performed with a rigid ultrasound probe as well as with flexible echoendoscopes. These are currently considered to be fast, safe, and accurate techniques.

The rigid ultrasound probe with an end-fire design or linear EUS scopes are optimal for ERUS interventions and can in most cases visualize the entire rectum, including perirectal structures. By using a dedicated needle guide mounted on the end-fire probe, this technique enables precise puncture of most rectal or perirectal targets seen on ERUS. ERUS-guided biopsy of rectal masses is an important supplement to conventional endoscopic biopsy if the latter technique does not provide the final diagnosis. Indications are staging of rectal cancer or suspicion of local recurrence. In these cases, ERUS-guided biopsy of a rectal mass with a 1.2-mm needle (18-gauge automatic or semi-automatic biopsy systems) can provide a deep tissue sample that often results in a final histologic diagnosis. In addition, ERUS-guided biopsy is an obvious technique to provide histological or cytological information about enlarged lymph nodes or other suspicious perirectal masses.

ERUS-guided drainage of deep pelvis abscesses or other fluid collections is a safe approach and effective treatment in cases where the transabdominal percutaneous access cannot be utilized because of overlying structures. The technique has been evaluated in several series together with alternative access techniques such as the transvaginal, transgluteal, and transperineal techniques ⁴⁴ . Smaller abscesses can often be treated with needle aspiration followed by saline irrigation, whereas larger abscesses may require continuous drainage through a catheter, which can be inserted using the Seldinger technique. A pre-procedure CT or MRI examination of the lower abdomen is recommended to visualize the location and size of the abscess in order to optimize drainage.

Recommendation 6: ERUS represents an effective guidance method for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions from the rectal side. LoE 4, GoR C (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

EndoAnal UltraSound

Introduction

Evaluation of the anal canal can be performed with different imaging modalities, such as US, MRI, CT and PET-CT ¹ . With respect to both ultrasound and MRI, scanning can be carried out with an endoanal approach (i. e., so-called EAUS) and endorectal coil MRI, respectively. For clinical use, EAUS has by far the highest resolution, both spatial and temporal, with visualization of submillimeter structures and real-time scanning.

Anatomy, sonoanatomy, and examination techniques

EAUS is performed with dedicated 5–12 MHz electronic and mechanical endoprobes of either radial, linear or curved array transducers. In the hands of an experienced user, EAUS represents an indispensable tool in the evaluation of both benign and malignant anal diseases. All ultrasound techniques, including color Doppler ( Fig. 8a ), contrast enhancement and elastography ( Fig. 8b ), can be utilized, based on the current software embedded in ultrasound scanners.

Fig. 8.

a Color flow imaging showing the Doppler appearance of a hypervascular inflammed anal region. b Endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) with a 360-degree radial transducer showing the muscular layers of the anal canal (red arrows), as well as the soft appearance of an inflammed anal sphincter region (courtesy of Christoph F. Dietrich).

The 360-degree transducer may be capable of generating 3D rendered images to facilitate better visualization of the volumetric appearance of the normal anatomy and abnormal findings ( Fig. 9 ). Thus, 3D EAUS has already been shown to improve the staging of anal cancer, including recurrent anal cancer, as compared with 2D techniques ^{45 46} . Another option is an endotransducer with a linear array of 5 cm or longer, mounted parallel to the long axis of the transducer in order to provide scanning planes perpendicular to the transducer’s long axis with a broad field of view ( Fig. 10 ). The scanning technique implies manual rotation of the transducer 360 degrees in a clockwise direction to perform an round-trip anal examination. Rotating the transducer clockwise from 12–3 will thus create scan planes turning from the sagittal to the median plane, through oblique fields of view, to the coronal plane. The rotating movement is continued until the image plane is back a 12 o’clock pointing anteriorly. The linear array transducer is also useful for US-guided intervention (biopsy, needle puncture, or catheter drainage). Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide or a few drops of an ultrasound contrast agent (SonoVue) may enhance US visualization of fistulas.

Fig. 9.

The U-shaped puborectalis muscle visualized with 3D radial endoanal ultrasound (red arrows) (courtesy of Eike Burmester).

Fig. 10.

Linear endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) showing the tumor (red arrows) extension from the anodermal junction, as well as thickness, with an oval, hypoechoic, well demarcated lymph node of 15 mm in the perirectal fat shown between markers (uT3N1) (courtesy of Christian Nolsøe, Torben Lorentzen).

The ultrasound anatomy of the anal canal is dominated by the change in arrangement of the muscular layers of the wall which is made up solely of the concentric muscles of the internal (IAS) and external anal sphincter (EAS). The anal canal constitutes the distal 2.5–5 cm of the bowel system and is divided into 3 levels relating to the sphincter muscles. The anal canal also represents the transition between the cylindrical mucosal lining in the rectum and the squamous cell lining of the skin. In the cranial third, ultrasound clearly visualizes the EAS continuing into and forming the U-shaped puborectalis muscle, keeping in mind that the anterior part of the EAS is generally shorter in women at this level. In the middle third, the IAS is often visualized distinctly as an inner echo-poor (hypoechoic) layer clearly demarcated against the outer, sometimes more diffusely visualized, EAS. In the lower anal canal, the usually more hyperechoic EAS continues distally to the IAS into its end point at the level of the anus. Thus, the EAS is the outermost muscle of the distal anal canal and the IAS is discontinuous at this level. The echo-rich EAS is the voluntary muscle used to control defecation whereas the echo-poor IAS is not under conscious control. The thickness of the IAS differs between 2 and 4 mm and enlarges with age; the EAS has a thickness of 10–13 mm. In women the ventral part of the EAS is smaller than the dorsal part ⁴⁷ .

Indications

Anal cancer

Anal cancer is staged according to the 8 ^th AJCC Staging Manual for TNM classification ²³ . Thus, EAUS is utilized in the locoregional staging of anal carcinoma before radio-chemotherapy or surgery and during the course of follow-up, if clinical examination is impaired due to pain or other imaging modalities are equivocal ^{48 49 50} . In addition to endoluminal evaluation, a surface ultrasound examination of inguinal lymph nodes using a high-resolution 6–10 MHz linear array is performed to supplement the locoregional N stage evaluation ⁵¹ .

EAUS and MRI are comparable in the assessment of local tumor extension ^{51 52} and both are recommended in international oncology guidelines ⁴⁸ . The scientific literature comparing different imaging modalities or imaging with pathological specimens is very limited with only 2 prospective studies available ^{51 53} . Only a few older studies comparing endoanal with clinical follow-up and outcome are available ^{54 55} . EAUS was thus reported to be superior to MRI for the detection of small superficial tumors with a sensitivity of 100% vs. 88.9%, respectively. Nevertheless, MRI may be needed for supplementary N staging as regional lymph nodes are outside the field of view for EAUS ⁵¹ .

The optimal transducer for endoanal staging depends on the experience of the examiner. During endoanal cancer staging, any tumor should be described in the ultrasound scanning report with the largest dimension in terms of craniocaudal length, thickness, and extension in the clockwise direction plus the notion of the most caudal extension relative to the anodermal junction ( Fig. 11a–c ).

Fig. 11.

a Radial endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) of an anal carcinoma (red arrows) extending beyond the anal sphincter shown between markers (uT3). b 3D reconstruction of the anal canal, including the tumor (red arrows), which can be precisely measured. c Linear endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) showing the tumor extension (red arrows) from the anodermal junction, as well as thickness. d Round, hypoechoic, well demarcated lymph node (red arrows) in the perirectal fat shown between markers (uN1) (courtesy of Christian Nolsøe, Torben Lorentzen).

Lymph nodes visualized in the perirectal space with a round, echo-poor appearance are considered malignant ( Fig. 11d ), whereas lymph nodes in the inguinal regions should be biopsied if suspicious on ultrasound or further characterized with PET-CT before finally considered malignant ^{48 49} .

Recommendation 7: EAUS is recommended for locoregional T staging of anal cancer. LoE 2b, GoR B (For 14, Abstain 1, Against 0)

Recommendation 8: EAUS can be recommended for locoregional N staging of anal cancer as a complement to other diagnostic tests such as PET-CT and MRI. LoE 5, GoR C (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Anal fistula

EAUS is recommended in patients with suspected or proven anal fistulas since this technique has been shown to be superior to clinical examination alone in order to delineate the site of internal openings, anatomical relation to sphincters, extensions and septic complications, like abscesses ( Fig. 12 13 ) ^{56 57} . Furthermore, several randomized prospective studies have also shown that EAUS could be successfully used to guide medical and surgical therapy of perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease ( Fig. 14 ) ^{58 59 60 61} . In Crohn´s disease, fistulas are located in the perianal region in over 50% of cases. Most of them are complex, with EAUS influencing patient management in 86% of patients ⁶² . Anal fistulas should be described according to the Park´s classification (intersphincteric, transsphincteric, suprasphincteric and extrasphincteric fistulas) ( Fig. 15a–c , Fig. 16 ) ⁶³ .

Fig. 12.

Endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) with 3D reconstructions, showing a cryptoglandular fistula (blue arrows) with a dorsal abscess in between red arrows (courtesy of Eike Burmester).

Fig. 13.

Recto-vaginal fistula containing fluid and gas (red arrows), visualized through a transrectal approach with a linear endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) probe (courtesy of Christian Nolsøe, Torben Lorentzen).

Fig. 14.

Echorich, air-bubble filled supra-sphincteric Crohnʼs fistula (red arrows) visualized with radial endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) at 2–3 and 6 o´clock position (courtesy of Eike Burmester).

Fig. 15.

a Anterior half of internal sphincter (IS) defect (red arrows) visualized by radial endoanal ultrasound (EAUS). b Radial EAUS of an anteriorly located fistula (between calipers), with an endoanal image (360°) showing 12 o’clock inter-sphincteric portion of the fistula (red arrow). c Perineal ultrasound (PNUS) view with a high frequency linear transducer depicts well the other portion of the fistula in between calipers (arrowhead), which is out of field of view for endoanal image (courtesy of Ismail Mihmanli).

Fig. 16.

Trans-sphincteric fistula (red arrow) visualized with linear EAUS, with the IAS and EAS marked by small and large stars, respectively (courtesy of Christian Nolsøe, Torben Lorentzen).

Several comparative studies have shown almost identical performance of EAUS and MRI in the detection of anal fistulas ^{64 65 66} . However, EAUS has several advantages over MRI in that it is portable and thus potentially available during fistula treatment in the operating room. EAUS-guided fistulography with contrast agents (e. g., hydrogen peroxide or SonoVue) is an accurate diagnostic modality in the preoperative assessment of anorectal fistulas ^{67 68} . Furthermore, MRI and EAUS are both superior to clinical examination for assessing treatment response or for detecting residual abscesses ⁶⁹ . 3D EAUS may be helpful in preoperative risk stratification concerning incontinence in trans-sphincteric fistulas. 3D reconstruction thus allows preoperative risk stratification for incontinence in correlation to the length and location of the fistula ^{70 71} . EAUS can monitor the course of anal fistulas with a favorable impact on the outcome of surgical treatment for anal fistulas ⁷² .

Anal abscesses

EAUS is recommended to assess perianal symptoms when abscesses or fistulas are suspected, as well as to monitor intersphincteric abscesses, which frequently have a benign and self-limiting course ⁷³ . EAUS is also useful for delineating the origin of sepsis, thus supporting surgical and medical planning ⁷⁴ . No comparative studies with a focus on EAUS and anal abscesses exist. However, the diagnostic performance is most probably similar to MRI. Furthermore, CT might have a role in this particular case ⁷⁵ .

Recommendation 9: EAUS is recommended for suspected anal fistulas and abscesses. LoE 2a, GoR B (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Recommendation 10: EAUS can be recommended to monitor the treatment of anal fistulas and/or anal abscess . LoE 2b, GoR C (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Anal incontinence

EAUS is one of the techniques for sphincter evaluation in trauma-induced anal incontinence that most often is caused by obstetric injury ⁷⁶ . Nevertheless, fecal incontinence must be evaluated in a multidisciplinary setting in consideration of clinical history, potential malignant or neurological diseases and pelvic insufficiency fractures. It is important to search for sphincter discontinuity and sphincter thinning and to perform perineal body measurement ⁷⁷ . EAUS has been proven superior to digital anorectal examination in 2 studies ^{77 78} . EAUS has also been compared to endoanal MRI in several studies with minorly conflicting results. However, the overall impression is that the 2 techniques are equivalent in diagnosing EAS injury, while MRI is inferior for diagnosing IAS injury and superior for identifying EAS atrophy ^{79 80 81 82} . Levator hiatus can be measured by EAUS in the axial plane in both the antero-posterior diameter and area ( Fig. 17 ). These measurements can be predictive of prolapse and prolapse recurrence ⁸³ .

Fig. 17.

Endoanal two-dimensional axial ultrasound image of the levator hiatus, measured in terms of both area (dash lines) and antero-posterior diameter (red arrow). PRM: puborectal muscle; AC: anal canal; UT: lower level of uterus (courtesy of Ismail Mihmanli).

Recommendation 11: EAUS is recommended in patients with anal incontinence, especially in traumatic lesions. LoE 2b, GoR C (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions

EAUS-guided interventional procedures play a similarly important role in the diagnostic workup of anal carcinomas as well as in the clinical follow-up after radio-chemotherapy. If final diagnosis of a suspected anal carcinoma is not reached through surgical biopsy or if a suspicious mass seen either at clinical examination or in other imaging modalities during the course of follow-up cannot be diagnosed with conventional image-guided biopsy, US-guided biopsy is an obvious option. Unfortunately, the end-fire ultrasound probe and needle guide described above cannot be used for this purpose due to incongruence between the probe design and the very short and narrow anal canal. US-guided biopsy of anal or perianal masses can be performed accurately and safely using a dedicated endoanal transducer, with a linear array parallel to the long axis of the transducer ( Fig. 18ab ). Using a free-hand technique whereby the needle is inserted transperineally, parallel to the probe long axis, all lesions in and around the anal canal can be biopsied and a final histological diagnosis can be reached. Only ERUS/EAUS can provide US-guided interventions as outlined herein. Surprisingly, to the best of our knowledge, series of either one of these techniques have not been published.

Fig. 18.

a Anal carcinoma visualized with a linear endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) probe as a hypoechoic tumor mass (red arrows). b Targeted EAUS Trucut biopsy of the anal carcinoma (red arrows) (courtesy of Christian Nolsøe, Torben Lorentzen).

Perineal Ultrasound

Anatomy and sonoanatomy

Perineal ultrasound (PNUS) is used for the examination of the rectum and perianal region. The technique is easy and noninvasive and no special equipment is necessary. However, the procedure is not very popular yet and studies and publications are rare. The aim of this part is to describe the method and its options while also making it more popular ^{84 85} .

The PNUS technique requires knowledge of the anatomy and topography of the pelvic floor, the anal canal, distal rectum, sphincters and perianal and perirectal structures ⁸⁶ . Detailed descriptions of the sonographic anatomy are given ^{87 88 89 90 91} .

Equipment and examination modalities

Preparation: The examination does not require specific preparation of the patient. A probe cover and ultrasound gel should be used for hygienic reasons and coupling of sonic signals ⁹² .

Probes: Conventional convex 3–5-MHz probes should be applied in the first step. The depth of acceptable view is 8–12 cm. In the second step HF linear probes (7–15 or 4–9 MHz) should be used. The depth of scanning with the HF probe is 5–8 cm. The HF probes can provide high-resolution imaging of the superficial structures in the perianal region and the perineum.

Examination position and technique: The patient can be examined lying on the left side with bent legs and knees. Sometimes additional examinations can be performed in a dorsal/dorsosacral position in the knee-elbow position (KEP). Other authors performed PNUS in a dorsal (spinal) position (lithotomy position). For better orientation, the urinary bladder should be filled. Anatomical landmarks for the examination are the urinary bladder, symphysis, prostate/vagina, anal canal, internal and external anal sphincter, perianal fatty tissue and sacrum. In the longitudinal section, the urinary bladder is documented on the right side or on the lower side. Longitudinal scans are performed in the middle line (in continuity of the anal cleft to the symphysis). Transverse sections are documented like in ERUS sections (12 h ventral; 6 h dorsal; 9 h right; 3 h left). The perineum is delineated by the pubic symphysis and inferior pubic ligament (ventrally), the coccygeum and anococcygeal ligament (dorsally), the ischium (ventral lateral) and the sacrotuberous ligament (dorsal lateral). It is divided into anterior, central and posterior compartments ⁹³ .

PNUS should be combined with anorectal digital examination in order to obtain information about any painful points. In the presence of a fistula with a perianal cutaneous ostium, the ultrasound probe is applied in the direction of the fistula course. In the case of superficial abscesses, combination with digital palpation under ultrasound examination is useful. Lesion location should be described in relation to the sphincters.

Recommendation 12: PNUS can be particularly useful when ERUS/EAUS are not possible because of painful examination, lack of availability or after rectum resection (proctectomy or proctocolectomy). LoE 5, GoR C (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Special techniques

Color Doppler sonography is an inherent part of any investigation. It allows clarification of the vascular anatomy and architecture as well as better differentiation of neoplastic and inflammatory processes. Cross-sectional images provide better panoramic views and allow better 3D reconstruction than single ultrasound images ⁹⁴ .

One way to visualize findings is the use of 3D sonography ⁹ . The pseudo-3D method, which applies defocusing of the acoustic lens and computational model assumptions, does not lead to substantial diagnostic improvement. In contrast, systematic 3D sonography applying matrix array technology leads to excellent image quality and valid volumetric measurements ⁹⁵ . However, the disadvantage of this technique remains its limited availability and flexibility due to bulky ultrasound probes. The “free-hand” 3D method works with correlation algorithms and uses several sensor-supported steps (e. g., data acquisition, correlation algorithms and quantification of the data sets). This method is particularly useful for the evaluation of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction ^{96 97 98 99 100 101} . For the evaluation of rectal tumors, 3D data sets are recorded ^{102 103} .

Sclerosing fistulas show homogeneous stiff (harder) tissue structures in sono-elastography, whereas acute inflammation with perifocal edema is displayed as compressible (soft) tissue structures ^{104 105} .

With contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) it is possible to differentiate diffuse inflammatory diseases from abscesses. Thus, contrast-enhanced voiding urosonography allows the diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in pediatric patients as well as assessment of the urethra ¹⁰⁶ .

Indications

Indications for PNUS are anal and perianal pain, lesions of the entire perianal region and other perianal complaints (especially in children, in patients with venereal infections, HIV and IBD), suspicion and follow-up of fistulas and abscesses (especially in Crohn’s disease), anal and rectal cancer (regional staging, evaluation of the sphincter apparatus and follow-up after rectal amputation), anal incontinence and some other indications in gynecology and urology (complementary sphincter evaluation, e. g., diagnosis of fistulas, sphincter tears, etc.) ^{107 108 109} . In children, it should be the first instrumental examination after inspection and digital anorectal palpation. It is also useful if clinical examination, ERUS/EAUS or MRI cannot be performed ¹¹⁰ . In complex questions concerning the perineum and the pelvis minor, MRI is the imaging method of choice. However, in acute inflammatory processes, especially in emergency situations, MRI is sometimes unavailable, time-consuming and cost-intensive ¹¹¹ , and might be complemented by PNUS.

Diagnosis of fistulas and abscesses

Perianal fistulas and abscesses, together with suppurative hidradenitis and pilonidal sinus, represent the main cause of perianal sepsis ¹¹² . Fistulas are of cryptoglandular origin (>90%) and are less frequently Crohn’s disease-related ^{113 114} . At PNUS, fistulas appear as hypoechoic tracts, sometimes with gaseous artifacts within, between the anus or rectum and the perianal surface or vagina ( Fig. 19ab ). Most of them have an irregular shape with a blind end or with connection to other organs like the uterus, urinary bladder, skin, or bowel. Differentiation of the fistulas is possible in superficial, inter-, trans-, extra- or supra-sphincteric types (Parks classification) ⁶³ . Another classification based on anatomical and clinical parameters is the differentiation of fistulas as “simple” or “complex”, according to the number and deep extension of fistulous tracks, the rectal inflammatory involvement and the association with anal stricture and abscesses ¹¹⁵ .

Fig. 19.

a Rectovaginal fistula (arrow) in a Crohn’s disease patient visualized by gas in the fistula (PNUS). b PNUS with a higher resolution by using a high frequency probe (courtesy of Dieter Nuernberg).

Complex fistulas involving the EAS, levator and/or obturator muscles cannot be evaluated by PNUS alone. ERUS/EAUS and MRI examination should also be performed ( Fig. 15a–c , 20a–c ). Due to its panoramic view, MRI can also be more accurate in this case. However, PNUS is a clinical examination method and the location of pain is helpful in therapy planning. Examination of the fistula track by PNUS, especially the detection of the internal opening, can be better performed by the injection of contrast agents (e. g., hydrogen peroxide or SonoVue) using a blunt cannula ⁹² . Several studies showed that PNUS has a high sensitivity and specificity in detecting perianal disease, comparable to those of MRI and ERUS/EAUS ^{113 116 117 118} .

Fig. 20.

a Trans-sphincteric fistula (red arrows) visualized with perineal ultrasound (PNUS) in the extrasphincteric course. b PNUS elastography showing the soft (compressible) fistula tract (red arrows). c Endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) appearance of the rest of the fistula tract (red arrow) (courtesy of Christoph F. Dietrich).

PNUS has high accuracy in detecting perianal fistulas and abscesses and can describe their anatomical relationship to the anal sphincters ( Fig. 21ab ). A systematic review with meta-analysis (12 studies, 9 prospective) showed that PNUS has high sensitivity in detecting perianal fistulas (98.3%) and their internal openings (90.6%) and in classifying the fistulas (92.8%), and that it is also accurate in detecting perianal abscesses (sensitivity 86.1% and PPV of 88.4%) ¹¹⁹ .

Fig. 21.

a Superficial perineal abscess with gas inside (red arrows) and echo-poor inflammatory surrounding (PNUS). b Fistula draining the abscess (red arrows) (courtesy of Dieter Nuernberg).

Several studies suggest that PNUS should be used as a preliminary tool in patients with suspected perianal fistulas and abscesses ^{120 121 122 123} . PNUS is also useful for monitoring patients with perianal fistulizing Crohn's disease under treatment with biologics. In particular, PNUS shows the persistence of fistulous tracks despite their clinical healing and closure of external opening after short-term biological therapy. PNUS documentation could influence the duration of biological therapy ¹²⁴ .

PNUS can also be used to decide for interventional or surgical therapy and as a guidance method during interventions.

Recommendation 13: PNUS may be used as a tool in patients with suspected perianal inflammation, for the detection of perianal fistulas, their internal openings and relation with sphincters, as well as for the assessment of perianal abscesses and the monitoring of fistulas in Crohn’s disease. LoE 1b, GoR B (For 13, Abstain 1, Against 1)

Diagnosis of anal incontinence

PNUS is also able to evaluate the sphincter apparatus and surroundings. The sonomorphological diagnosis of incontinence remains a domain of ERUS/EAUS, which gives a right-angled and orthogonal picture of both sphincters ¹²⁵ . However, the examination of the sphincters by PNUS can give some additional information, especially in women, but it is limited by the diagonal angle of view. Combined results from ERUS/EAUS, PNUS and rectal manometry allow differentiation of 4 forms of anal incontinence: a purely sensory form, a predominantly muscular form, a combination of both and a malfunction of the rectal reservoir function ¹²⁶ .

The most frequent causes of sphincter lesions in women are delivery traumas ^{127 128} . Resulting scars or defects are typically located between the ventral edge of the anus and the vagina. In the echo-rich EAS, the scar occurs as an echo-poor part. In the echo-poor IAS, the scar presents as an included echo-rich structure. Sonographic evidence of disruptions of the EAS correlates with fecal incontinence, particularly in women ^{129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137} . The complete evaluation of the sphincter apparatus for diagnosis of incontinence remains the domain of ERUS/EAUS. However, PNUS can give additional information on extra-sphincteric complications ¹³⁸ .

Other indications

PNUS can also give complementary information for the diagnosis of cervix insufficiency, uterine prolapse and secondary urinary incontinence. The ultrasound transducer is placed above the external aperture of the urethra in women, which allows imaging of the urethra and the posterior wall of the urinary bladder. The degree of uterine prolapse can be estimated from the delta angle between both structures at rest and during a Valsalva maneuver ¹³⁹ .

The classification of anorectal malformations is also possible ^{140 141} , which is of major importance in pediatrics. Also, PNUS can be very helpful for the diagnosis of anal atresia ¹⁴² . In daily practice, especially in stenosis, painful or limited ERUS/EAUS, PNUS is also used for the diagnosis, differentiation and staging of anal and rectal tumors. PNUS is also used for the aftercare of anal cancer patients and after rectum amputation. PNUS is still a method with limited published evidence for tumor assessment, even though it is of importance in daily practice.

Diagnostic and therapeutic interventions

A valuable extension of the diagnostic application of PNUS is its supportive role during invasive interventions, such as the drainage of liquids ( Fig. 22 ) or the targeted puncture of suspected tissue lesions. Specialized transducers with a built-in needle holder are available. However, conventional curved array probes can be used for free-hand puncture, particularly if the lesion of interest is close to the surface and large enough. An essential condition for interventions in the very sensitive perineal region is the appropriate use of local anesthesia ^{44 143} .

Fig. 22.

Anal abscess (red arrows) drained with a perineal ultrasound (PNUS) guided approach with an end-fire probe (courtesy of Christian Nolsøe, Torben Lorentzen).

Recommendation 14: PNUS represents an effective guidance method for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions from the perineal side. LoE 3b, GoR B (For 15, Abstain 0, Against 0)

Comparisons and combination of PNUS and ERUS

For complementary information, PNUS should be followed by EAUS/ERUS. The methods use different angles of view. The advantages of PNUS are that it is readily available, is not painful, is associated with low costs, and is without complications. Furthermore, ERUS can fail to demonstrate perianal fistulas, especially when in a diagonal position with respect to the sphincter ^{107 108} . PNUS permits acquisition of images by using variable sections, especially in the oblique course of fistulas. However, as PNUS cannot demonstrate the complete sphincter, it is highly recommended to always use it in conjunction with ERUS ⁴³ .

PNUS can be performed after rectum amputation and in stenosis of the anal canal or inflammatory pain. US-guided interventions are usually safe and uncomplicated. PNUS with an HF probe seems to be more effective in superficial lesions. Nevertheless, ERUS is usually indicated in profound lesions (tumors, abscesses) ⁸⁹ .

Recommendation 15: PNUS may be recommended in combination with ERUS/EAUS if additional information is needed. LoE 5, GoR C (For 14, Abstain 1, Against 0)