Assessment of clinical impact of endoscopic ultrasound on esophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) with fine needle aspiration (FNA) is the most accurate imaging modality for locoregional staging of esophageal cancer. It remains unclear whether this technology impacts on the outcome of patients with this malignancy. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of EUS FNA by comparing the clinical outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer before and after the introduction of this staging modality in our institution.


METHODS
Outcomes of patients with de novo non-metastatic esophageal cancer seen in 1998 without EUS FNA evaluation (non-EUS control group) were compared to patients evaluated in 2000 with EUS FNA (EUS group).


RESULTS
Outcomes of 60 (non-EUS control group) and 107 (EUS group) patients with non-metastatic esophageal cancer were compared. Preoperative neoadjuvant therapy was administered to 35 patients in the EUS group, all of whom had advanced disease. Cox proportional hazards demonstrated EUS FNA to be associated with reduced recurrence risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43-0.87), P = 0.004, and reduced mortality (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.47-0.90), P = 0.008.


CONCLUSIONS
The EUS staging of esophageal cancer leads to appropriate use of preoperative neoadjuvant therapy in patients with advanced disease. Use of EUS is associated with a recurrence-free survival advantage and overall survival advantage in patients, thus supporting its routine use in esophageal cancer staging.
Harewood
Gavin C
GC
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. harewood.gavin@mayo.edu
Kumar
K Shiva
KS
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D019160:Endosonography; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011300:Preoperative Care; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis