To investigate the application value of ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) in the diagnosis of rectal cancer and evaluation of lymph node metastasis.

A total of 96 patients with rectal tumors admitted to Xuzhou First People's Hospital from October 2021 to October 2024 were selected as the research subjects. The value of SWE in the diagnosis of rectal cancer and evaluation of lymph node metastasis was analyzed.

Pathological results showed that among 96 patients with rectal tumors enrolled in this study, there were 75 patients with rectal cancer and 21 patients without. The mean Young's modulus and elastic variance of patients with rectal cancer were higher than those of patients without (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in elasticity contrast between patients with rectal cancer and those without (P>0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that for diagnosing rectal cancer, the AUC, specificity and sensitivity of mean Young's modulus were 0.850, 73.33% and 90.48%. The AUC, specificity and sensitivity of elastic variance were 0.846, 62.67% and 95.24%. The AUC, specificity and sensitivity of combination of mean Young's modulus and elastic variance were 0.946, 95.67% and 90.48%. Among 75 patients with rectal cancer, 31 patients were confirmed to have lymph node metastasis after radical surgery. The mean Young's modulus and elastic variance of patients with lymph node metastasis were higher than those of patients without (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in elasticity contrast between patients with lymph node metastasis and those without (P>0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that for evaluating lymph node metastasis, the AUC, specificity and sensitivity of mean Young's modulus were 0.828, 67.14% and 88.64%. The AUC, specificity and sensitivity of elastic variance were 0.848, 74.19% and 81.28%. The AUC, specificity and sensitivity of combination of mean Young's modulus and elastic variance were 0.927, 96.77% and 88.64%.

The SWE parameters (mean Young's modulus and elastic variance) are of high value in the diagnosis of rectal cancer and evaluation of lymph node metastasis.