[The role of echo-endoscopy in the staging of squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus. The correlation between the surgical and anatomicopathological findings].
BACKGROUND
Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a relatively new diagnostic method to assess the extent and the depth of infiltration of esophageal carcinoma.


METHODS
From October 1990, 100 patients affected by esophageal squamous cell carcinoma underwent preoperative evaluation with endoscopic ultrasonography, 85 of whom were operated on. The first 23 patients underwent endosonography with an Olympus GF-EUM2 with a 7.5 MHz echo-probe; the remaining 77 patients underwent EUS with an Olympus GF-EUM3 with a 7.5-12 MHz echo-probe.


RESULTS
In 33 cases (33%), the procedure was not completed because of the impossibility of passing through the neoplastic stenosis. The depth of infiltration was correctly defined by EUS in 73 of 85 patients (86%) compared with 47% of Computed Tomography (CT) (p < 0.05). Overestimation occurred in 6 patients (7%), whereas underestimation occurred in 6 cases (7%). Lymph-node involvement was correctly classified by EUS in 50 of 57 patients (88%) compared with 39% of CT.


CONCLUSIONS
EUS provides a high degree of accuracy in assessing both T and N parameters in staging esophageal cancer. The major problem of the method is still the frequent impossibility of passing through a neoplastic stenosis.
Massari
M
M
Istituto di Chirurgia Generale e Toraco-Polmonare, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico IRCCS, Università degli Studi, Milano.
Pavoni
G M
GM
Cioffi
U
U
De Simone
M
M
Lattuada
F
F
Celotti
S
S
Faini
G
G
Brocchi
A
A
Pietri
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D019160:Endosonography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
Ruolo dell'ecoendoscopia nella stadiazione del carcinoma squamoso dell'esofago. Correlazione con i reperti operatori ed anatomopatologici.