title: Endoscopic ultrasonography of the esophagus.
abstract: Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a generally accepted technique for the preoperative staging of malignant tumors in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tracts. In particular, EUS has been considered the method of choice in diagnosing esophageal carcinoma due to the relative ease in performing the examination and the accuracy of staging based on high-resolution ultrasonic imaging from within the lumen of the esophagus. This comprehensive review covers currently available EUS instruments, image characteristics of esophageal carcinoma, and images by the recently introduced miniprobe scanner. The role of the method in diagnosing superficial esophageal carcinoma and the possible treatment by endoscopic mucosal resection of this particular disease entity are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound and Medical Electronics, Sapporo Medical University Hospital, Minami 1-jo, Nishi 16-chome, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Natori
mesh_terms: D019160:Endosonography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D014159:Transducers