Case Control Study
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World J Gastroenterol. Aug 14, 2014; 20(30): 10470-10477
Published online Aug 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i30.10470
Diagnostic accuracy of endoscopic ultrasonography for rectal neuroendocrine neoplasms
Hong-Tan Chen, Guo-Qiang Xu, Xiao-Dong Teng, Yi-Peng Chen, Li-Hua Chen, You-Ming Li
Hong-Tan Chen, Guo-Qiang Xu, Yi-Peng Chen, Li-Hua Chen, You-Ming Li, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Xiao-Dong Teng, Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Chen HT, Xu GQ and Li YM designed the research; Chen HT, Teng XD and Chen YP performed the research; Chen HT, Teng XD and Chen LH analyzed the data; Chen HT wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Guo-Qiang Xu, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 79 Qingchun Road, Hangzhou 310003, Zhejiang Province, China. xgqcht@163.com
Telephone: +86-571-87236718 Fax: +86-571-87236628
Received: February 15, 2014
Revised: May 8, 2014
Accepted: May 25, 2014
Published online: August 14, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Distinguishing other subepithelial lesions (SELs) from neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) is important for appropriate clinical management of the disease. In this study, the typical endoscopic ultrasonographic (EUS) characteristics of rectal NENs are round or nodular homogeneous medium-echoic lesions located in both the second and third wall layers clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissue. Approximately 94.4% of rectal NENs were correctly diagnosed by EUS, but 25.8% of other rectal SELs were misdiagnosed as NENs. EUS has satisfactory diagnostic accuracy for rectal NEN with good sensitivity, but unfavorable specificity, making the differential diagnosis of NENs from other SELs challenging.