Use of 3-D freehand endorectal ultrasound system with appropriate rectal phantom

Rectal cancer is a growing problem, and more accurate diagnostic and treatment procedures are needed to improve patient care. The initial study reporting the accuracy of an optically tracked endorectal ultrasound (TERUS) probe using an appropriately designed rectal phantom, for the purpose of improving the care of rectal cancer, is presented here. This work describes the need for a more accurate ERUS system and why the incorporation of image guidance makes this goal feasible. We present the methods of constructing an appropriate rectal phantom and the results of accuracy testing of the TERUS system with the phantom. This study presents a very promising outcome because the required tumor margins for rectal cancer are on the order of centimeters and the proven accuracy is on the order of millimeters.