Endorectal fusion imaging: A description of a new technique

BACKGROUND: Fusion imaging is an accepted method in abdominal imaging allowing a simultaneous display of reference imaging with a live ultrasound (US) investigation. For prostate cancer, promising results have been published for endorectal US (ERUS)-guided biopsy of suspicious lesions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To our knowledge, no other indication for the fusion of ERUS with MRI has been reported so far. METHODS: We report on three patients scheduled for ERUS due to anorectal fistulae after treatment (n = 2) or rectal carcinoma (n = 1), which were scheduled for real-time virtual onography (RVS), a method for the fusion of MRI imaging with US. RESULTS: In all patients, RVS was successful. The course of the fistulae could be defined and the success of the treatment could be confirmed. In the patient with rectal carcinoma, the lymph nodes suspicious in MRI could be identified. CONCLUSIONS: MRI/ERUS fusion has the potential for follow-up of anorectal fistulae and abscesses, and staging of anal and rectal tumors.