title: Usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of congenital esophageal stenosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is considered a potentially useful tool to investigate structural abnormalities of the esophagus in pediatric patients, as in adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of EUS for the diagnosis of congenital esophageal stenosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  High-frequency catheter probe EUS was performed under general anesthesia in 2 patients who had congenital esophageal stenosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 4-year-old boy with anorectal anomaly showed tapered narrowing in the distal esophagus, which was not ameliorated with balloon dilatation. High-frequency catheter probe EUS showed hypertrophy of the muscular layer in the esophageal wall at the narrowed portion, but no images suggested the presence of tracheobronchial remnants. The histologic diagnosis of fibromuscular hypertrophy was confirmed at esophagoplasty. A 5-month-old boy with Gross C-type esophageal atresia and symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux showed tapered narrowing in the middle esophagus on esophagography. The symptoms of stenosis were not ameliorated by balloon dilatation performed 4 times. High-frequency catheter probe EUS showed hyperechoic lesions suggesting cartilage at the esophageal narrowing. The diagnosis of tracheobronchial remnants was confirmed by the finding of 2 pieces of cartilage in the specimen obtained at the time of esophageal resection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EUS can be applied to show structural abnormalities of the esophageal wall even in pediatric patients with congenital esophageal stenosis and is useful for planning the therapeutic strategy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka Japan.
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Shinkichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kamata
authors.forename: Hisayoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.forename: Kiyokazu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D019160:Endosonography / Q000379:methods*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male