Characterization of the colorectal cancer in a rabbit model using quantitative high-frequency endoscopic ultrasound

Colorectal cancer (CRC) at early stage often has no symptoms, which causes delay of successful treatments. Colonoscopy is clinically performed for screening, during which biopsy may be conducted; however, it is difficult to determine early stage CRC by ordinary endoscopy even with dye due to the insufficient superficial scope of colorectal surface for pre-cancerous diagnosis. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been widely used to visualize overall depth-view five-layered structural alteration of colorectal tract. The field of knowledge of high-frequency EUS with quantitative ultrasound (QUS) for early colorectal cancer diagnosis is yet to be fully determined and a reproducible and feasible animal model is appropriate for further development of this novel modality. VX2 CRC Rabbit model is first time used as a model for endoscopic ultrasound imaging according to our knowledge. In this study, we for the first time show the application of high-frequency EUS along with QUS to characterize malignant colorectal tumor and benign colorectal tissue in a rabbit model of VX2 colorectal cancer.