Can rectal cancer be detected by ultrasound B?

Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

Updated on September 02, 2024

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Can rectal ultrasound detect it? When we perform an abdominal ultrasound for the digestive system, we might see a potential mass in the abdomen, but its specific nature cannot be clearly identified. Therefore, the definitive diagnosis of rectal cancer still relies on biopsy and pathological examination. Thus, it is recommended to go to the hospital and consult a professional oncologist for tests, such as undergoing an endoscopic biopsy or having a surgical procedure to remove and then analyze the pathology to confirm whether it is rectal cancer or not.

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Written by Liu Liang

Oncology

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Can rectal cancer be cured?

If rectal cancer is detected in its early stages, such as stage I or II, curative surgery can be performed. Postoperative decisions regarding the necessity of adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy are based on the postoperative pathological staging. Early-stage rectal cancer patients can achieve a cure through surgical treatment combined with some postoperative adjuvant therapies. After curative surgery, the overall five-year survival rate is approximately 50%. However, this rate can vary and is associated with several factors such as postoperative pathology, whether there is lymph node metastasis, the presence of vascular tumor thrombi, and nerve invasion, among other high-risk factors for recurrence, showing certain individual differences. Yet, early-stage rectal cancer patients can achieve a cure through these methods.

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Oncology

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Symptoms of rectal cancer recurrence

The symptoms of rectal cancer recurrence can include changes in bowel habits and stool characteristics, possibly presenting as rectal bleeding, increased frequency of bowel movements, a sensation of heaviness in the anus, and changes in stool shape, such as narrowing. The second symptom may be abdominal pain, particularly persistent and subtle pain. The third symptom involves palpable abdominal lumps or masses, especially with right-sided colon cancer. The fourth symptom is intestinal obstruction, which can occur if the bowel is blocked due to the recurrence of rectal cancer, leading to symptoms of intestinal obstruction. The fifth symptom, if the recurrent rectal cancer has metastasized, may lead to symptoms at the respective metastatic sites.

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Written by Liu Liang

Oncology

1min 19sec

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What tests are used to check for rectal cancer?

When clinical symptoms such as diarrhea or constipation, changes in bowel habits, bloody stools, and abdominal pain occur, we should be vigilant about the possibility of rectal cancer. The examination for rectal cancer can start with a digital rectal exam, especially for low-lying rectal cancer, which is closer to the anus; these tumors can be detected through this method. Then, a colonoscopy should be performed to take a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis, which is the gold standard for confirmation. Additionally, blood tests for tumor markers can be conducted. Generally, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and CA199 levels may be elevated, but this is not absolute as their specificity and sensitivity are not very high. An enhanced CT scan of the abdomen can also be done. In such scans, we can see thickening of the intestinal wall where the tumor is located, and the enhancement can show the intensified thickening of the intestinal wall. Combining all these methods can confirm the diagnosis of rectal cancer.

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Written by Yan Chun

Oncology

1min 13sec

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Early symptoms of rectal cancer

The early symptoms of rectal cancer generally include the following aspects: many patients experience changes in their bowel habits, such as prolonged diarrhea, prolonged constipation, or alternating occurrences of diarrhea and constipation. Some patients also experience changes in the characteristics of their stools, with stools becoming thinner and more watery due to increased bowel movements. Additionally, some patients may excrete stools mixed with mucus, pus, and blood, or stools that contain blood, and may experience a feeling of urgency followed by a sensation of incomplete evacuation. Some patients also feel itching or a dull pain in the anal area. Moreover, the early symptoms of rectal cancer are not very prominent, and many patients can easily confuse them with benign rectal diseases such as hemorrhoids and anal fissures. This confusion leads many patients not to seek medical attention, and by the time symptoms like significant pain and lumps appear, the disease is typically in its intermediate or advanced stages.

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Written by Gong Chun

Oncology

47sec

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Is a severely blocked anus a symptom of rectal cancer?

Is anal blockage a manifestation of rectal cancer? The answer could be yes, but it could also be due to hemorrhoids, or other diseases. The main common symptoms of rectal cancer include changes in bowel habits and the characteristics of the stool. There may be frequent bowel movements, diarrhea, or constipation, or alternating constipation and diarrhea, a sensation of anal heaviness, or associated with vague abdominal pain. Symptoms of abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, and abdominal masses might also appear. When the tumor grows to a certain extent, an abdominal mass can be palpated, which might cause some compressive symptoms, possibly leading to anal blockage as one of the symptoms.