Clinical experience with newer electronic radial-type endoscopic color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of esophageal varices.
OBJECTIVE
Endoscopic color Doppler ultrasonography (ECDUS) is a method for obtaining color images of flow in blood vessels. In this study, we report the utility of a newer electronic radial ECDUS for evaluating cases with esophageal varices.


METHODS
Nineteen patients with esophageal varices were selected. The ECDUS was performed using a Pentax EG-3670URK (forward-view) with a distal tip diameter of 12 mm. A Hitachi EUB 7500, which provides a 360° view, was used for display.


RESULTS
The newer electronic radial ECDUS more clearly delineates images of vessels in patients with esophageal varices. We found two chief advantages over the old probe, i.e., it is easier to manipulate in the distal esophagus than the old probe and it produces 360° images instead of 60° or 270° images.


CONCLUSIONS
Forward-view optics and an extended 360° viewing angle enabled clear color flow images to be obtained from all cases of esophageal varices examined.
Department of Gastroenterology, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Kita 3 Higashi 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0033, Japan. taka.sato@ja-hokkaidoukouseiren.or.jp.
Takahiro
T
Sato
Department of Gastroenterology, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Kita 3 Higashi 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0033, Japan.
Katsu
K
Yamazaki
Department of Gastroenterology, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Kita 3 Higashi 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0033, Japan.
Jouji
J
Toyota
Department of Gastroenterology, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Kita 3 Higashi 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0033, Japan.
Yoshiyasu
Y
Karino
Department of Gastroenterology, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Kita 3 Higashi 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0033, Japan.
Takumi
T
Ohmura
Department of Gastroenterology, Sapporo Kosei General Hospital, Kita 3 Higashi 8, Chuo-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0033, Japan.
Jun
J
Akaike
Color Doppler; Endoscopic ultrasonography; Esophageal varices