Published online Feb 21, 2024. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i7.774
Peer-review started: November 21, 2023
First decision: December 12, 2023
Revised: December 19, 2023
Accepted: January 24, 2024
Article in press: January 24, 2024
Published online: February 21, 2024
Processing time: 91 Days and 21.6 Hours
This research aimed to examine the diagnostic accuracy and clinical significance of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in the context of small rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). A total of 108 patients with rectal subepithelial lesions (SELs) with a diameter of < 20 mm were included in the analysis. The diagnosis and depth assessment of EUS was compared to the histology findings. The prevalence of NENs in rectal SELs was 78.7% (85/108). The sensitivity of EUS in detecting rectal NENs was 98.9% (84/85), while the specificity was 52.2% (12/23). Overall, the diagnostic accuracy of EUS in identifying rectal NENs was 88.9% (96/108). The overall accuracy rate for EUS in assessing the depth of invasion in rectal NENs was 92.9% (78/84). Therefore, EUS demonstrates reasonable diagnostic accuracy in detecting small rectal NENs, with good sensitivity but inferior specificity. EUS may also assist physicians in assessing the depth of invasion in small rectal NENs before endoscopic excision.
Core Tip: The diagnostic efficacy and clinical significance of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) on rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) have not been well demonstrated owing to the infrequency of these particular disorders. In this manuscript, we compared the results of EUS with histology findings among a total of 108 patients with rectal subepithelial lesions with a diameter of < 20 mm. We found that EUS demonstrates reasonable diagnostic accuracy in detecting small rectal NENs, with good sensitivity but inferior specificity. EUS may also assist physicians in assessing the depth of invasion in small rectal NENs before endoscopic excision.
