Endoscopic ultrasonographic detection of carcinomatous invasion and of lymph nodes in the thoracic esophagus

The use of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for diagnosing the depth of carcinomatous invasion into the esophageal wall and in detecting mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with esophageal carcinoma was assessed. EUS was performed before surgery in 33 patients who underwent subtotal esophagectomy with lymph node dissection in our department of surgery between January 1987 and February 1989. The findings of EUS prospectively correlated with intraoperative macroscopic findings and histopathologic findings of the resected specimens. An accurate diagnosis of the depth of invasion into the esophageal wall was made in 30 of the 33 patients (90.1%). Visualization rates of mediastinal lymph nodes were 92.9%, 53.1%, and 1.0% when the nodes were greater than 10 mm in maximum diameter, 5 to 9 mm, and less than 5 mm, respectively. Although EUS had no diagnostic value for patients in whom the ultrasonic probe could not be inserted beyond the tumor, it is an excellent method for evaluating the depth of invasion and detecting lymph nodes greater than 10 mm in diameter. Detection is not feasible when the lymph node is less than 5 mm in diameter. EUS provides the surgeon with one more tool for the preoperative determination of curability.     

Endoscopic ultrasound for preoperative staging of esophageal carcinoma

Background Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is potentially the best method for pretreatment staging of esophageal carcinoma once distant metastases have been excluded by other methods. However, its apparent accuracy might be influenced by the use of neoadjuvant therapy. To determine the accuracy of EUS in patients undergoing esophageal resection, the authors reviewed their experience with EUS. Methods A total of 73 patients with esophageal carcinoma who underwent an esophagectomy between April 2000 and February 2005 were examined using preoperative EUS and computed tomography (CT). Of these patients, 39 also underwent preoperative neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Both EUS and CT scan were used to determine the depth of tumor penetration (T-stage) and the presence of lymph node metastases (N-stage). These results then were compared with staging determined after pathologic examination of the resected surgical specimen. Results For patients not undergoing neoadjuvant therapy, T-stage was accurately determined by EUS in 79%, N-stage in 74%, and tumor node metastasis (TNM) classification in 65% of the cases. However, when patients who had undergone neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were included, the overall accuracy of EUS was 64% for T-stage, 63% for N-stage, and 53% for TNM classification. For the patients who underwent neoadjuvant therapy, EUS indicated a more advanced T-stage in 49%, N-stage in 38%, and TNM classification in 51% of the cases, as compared with pathology. The overall accuracy of EUS for T- and N-stage carcinomas was superior to that of CT scanning. Conclusion For patients who do not undergo preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, EUS is a more accurate method for determining T- and N-stage resected esophageal carcinomas. Neoadjuvant therapy, however, results in apparent overstaging, predominantly because of tumor downstaging, and this reduces the apparent accuracy of EUS (and CT scanning) in this patient group. Nevertheless, EUS staging before neoadjuvant therapy could be more accurate than pathologic staging after treatment, thereby providing better initial staging information, which can be used to facilitate treatment.     

Serial endoscopic ultrasound in the assessment of response to chemoradiotherapy for carcinoma of the esophagus

The aim of the study was to assess whether endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) could accurately measure the locoregional response to chemoradiotherapy in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. Seventeen patients with esophageal carcinoma underwent EUS examination before and on completion of chemoradiotherapy. The EUS findings were correlated with the results of histologic examination of the esophagectomy specimen. The accuracy of EUS in these patients was compared with the accuracy of EUS in a control group of 17 patients treated by surgery alone. In 16 of 17 patients EUS-determined tumor (T) stage was unchanged following treatment and in one patient there was T-stage progression. No patient demonstrated downstaging of the primary tumor according to classical EUS criteria. In 10 of 17 patients a reduction in maximum tumor depth of >-2 mm was observed (range 2 to 18 mm). Histologic examination revealed that four patients with squamous cell carcinoma had experienced a complete pathologic response. These four patients had significantly lower posttreatment EUS tumor depths compared to patients without a complete response (5.0 vs. 9.0 mm; P <0.05). Based on the post-treatment EUS examination, the accuracy was 59% for T stage and 59% for node (N) stage. The accuracy of EUS in patients treated by surgery alone was 94% for T stage and 94% for N stage, indicating a significant reduction in the accuracy of EUS in patients following chemoradiotherapy (P <0.05). The accuracy of EUS examination in patients with carcinoma of the esophagus treated by chemoradiotherapy was poor. EUS did not detect downstaging of the primary tumor, even in the presence of a complete pathologic response. EUS assessment of maximum tumor depth was a better measure of response to therapy. Presented at the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland, Edinburgh, May 1998, and published as an abstract in British Journal of Surgery 85 (Suppl 1):9, 1998.     

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.     

胃癌侵犯深度及可切除性的超声内镜判断价值

目的：分析ＥＵＳ检查对胃癌侵犯深度及可切除性判断的价值。方法：对１１２例胃癌患者行ＥＵＳ检查，其中８３例行手术治疗，其余２９例未行手术。比较ＥＵＳ和手术所见及病理结果。结果：ＥＵＳ判断胃癌侵犯深度的准确率为８５．５％（７１／８３），其中早期胃癌１３例，８例判断正确，进展期胃癌７０例，６３例判断正确。ＥＵＳ判断胃癌能否手术切除的准确率为８５．７％（９６／１１２）。结论：ＥＵＳ在判断癌侵犯深度方面具有较高的准确性，也能够为术前判断肿瘤的可切除性提供较大的帮助。     

腔内超声与螺旋CT对直肠癌术前分期的对比研究

目的比较腔内超声（EUS）和螺旋CT（SCT）对直肠癌术前分期的诊断价值。方法对68例直肠癌患者术前行EUS和SCT检查，将检查结果与手术及病理结果对比；同时比较EUS和SCT对诊断直肠肿瘤浸润深度、区域淋巴结转移的准确性。结果判断T分期，EUS准确率为86．8％（59／68），SCT准确率为70．6％（48／68），两者比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。评价N分期，EUS的准确率为67．6％（46／68），SCT的准确率为63．2％（43／68），两者比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论EUS对判断直肠肿瘤浸润深度优于SCT，但两者对淋巴结转移的判断均存在一定的局限性。     

Defining a role for endoscopic ultrasound in staging periampullary tumors

BACKGROUND: The goal of the preoperative workup in patients with suspected periampullary carcinoma is to establish the diagnosis with a high degree of certainty. In this study we compared endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and computed tomography (CT) scans for the detection of tumor, lymph node metastasis, and vascular invasion in patients with suspected periampullary carcinoma in order to define a role for EUS in the preoperative staging of these patients. METHODS: Thirty-seven consecutive patients received EUS and CT scanning followed by operation for presumed periampullary carcinoma during a 30-month period. Both imaging modalities were reviewed in a blinded fashion and the results compared with pathology and operative reports on all patients. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for tumor detection by EUS were 97%, 33%, 94%, and 50%, respectively, compared with 82%, 66%, 97%, and 25% for CT scan. For lymph nodes the values were 21%, 80%, 57%, and 44%, respectively, for EUS compared with 42%, 73%, 67%, and 50% for CT. For vascular invasion, the values were 20%, 100%, 100%, and 89%, respectively, for EUS, compared with 80%, 87%, 44%, and 96% for CT. CONCLUSIONS: CT is the initial study of choice in patients with suspected periampullary tumors. EUS is superior for detecting tumor and for predicting vascular invasion. Therefore, EUS should be used for patients in whom CT does not detect a mass and for those with an identifiable mass on CT in whom vascular invasion cannot be ruled out.     

超声内镜和CT检查对判断食管癌根治性切除的临床价值

目的探讨超声内镜（EUS）和CT对判断食管癌能否根治性切除的临床价值。方法回顾性分析经手术治疗的746例食管癌患者的临床资料．按术前所行检查分为CT组（480例）、EUS组（151例）和EUS加CT组（115例）,采用双盲法,对EUS和CT影像进行回顾性阅片,并将各组结果和手术病理结果进行对照研究。结果CT组、EUS组和EUS加CT组患者的手术根治性切除率分别为91．0％、93．4％和93．9％：3组间差异无统计学意义（X2=1．551,P=0．484）。CT组、EUS组和EUS加CT组术前判断手术根治切除率分别为81．7％、94．7％和96．5％（Xz=15．131,P=0．000;x2=15．662,P=0．000：X2=0．502．P=0．346）;诊断主动脉受侵率分别为91．3％、98．7％和98．3％（X2=9．764,P=0．000;x2=6．659,P=0．004;x2=0．076,P=0．581）;诊断气管支气管受侵率分别为91.3％、96．0％和98．3％（X2=3．729,P=0．034;X2=6．659,P=0．004;X2=1．117,P=0．248）。结论EUS诊断食管癌根治切除和主动脉受侵的临床价值高于CT：EUS和CT诊断气管支气管受侵的价值均较低：与单独应用EUS相比．CT和EUS的联合应用未能显著提高诊断食管癌的根治切除率。     

Endoscopic ultrasonography is useful for monitoring the tumor response of neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BackgroundRecently, neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) has been introduced for treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study was performed to investigate the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in comparison with EUS findings before and after CRT, and histologic findings.MethodsThere were 33 patients with potentially resectable ESCC who underwent neoadjuvant CRT. Preoperative EUS and histologic findings were compared. EUS criteria were established on the basis of low and high echoic regions. Resected specimens were examined by hematoxylin-eosin, azan, and cytokeratin immunohistochemical staining.ResultsAzan and cytokeratin staining clearly delineated fibrous changes and residual tumor. Low echoic regions corresponded to residual tumor and high echoic spots corresponded to fibrosis. All 12 patients classified as grade 1 on EUS diagnosis had histologic grade 1 tumors. Nineteen of 21 cases that presented with high echo were grade 2 or 3. The prognosis according to EUS diagnosis was similar to the histologic effect.ConclusionsPreoperative EUS findings reflected the histologic effect after neoadjuvant CRT. EUS is a useful tool to assess the effect for CRT and to predict the prognosis in ESCC patients.     

Does neoadjuvant chemoradiation downstage esophageal carcinoma?

BACKGROUND: Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is administered to patients with esophageal carcinoma with the belief that this will both downstage the tumor and improve survival. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is currently the most accurate method of staging esophageal cancer for tumor (T) and lymph node (N) status. Because both EUS and neoadjuvant therapy for esophageal carcinoma are relatively new, there are few data examining the relationship between EUS stage and histological stage (the stage after resection) in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. METHODS: To determine the effect of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy on T and N stage as determined by EUS, we retrospectively compared two groups of patients with esophageal cancer staged by EUS. One group (33 patients) underwent neoadjuvant therapy (Walsh protocol: 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and 4000 rads of external beam radiation) followed by resection. The second group (22 patients), a control group, underwent resection without neoadjuvant therapy. We then compared histological stage to determine if there was a downstaging in the patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. Survival was evaluated as well. RESULTS: EUS accurately predicted histologic stage. In the control group EUS overestimated T stage in 3 of 22 (13%), underestimated N stage in 2 of 22 (9%), and overestimated N stage in 2 of 22 (9%) of patients. Preoperative radiochemotherapy downstaged (preoperative EUS stage versus pathologic specimen) 12 of 33 (36%) of patients whereas only 1 of 22 (5%) of patients in the control group was downstaged. Complete response (no tumor found in the surgical specimen) was observed in 5 of 33 (15%) of patients receiving radiochemotherapy. Survival was prolonged significantly in patients receiving radiochemotherapy: 20.6 months versus 9.6 months for those (stage II or III) patients not receiving radiochemotherapy (P <0.01). Operative time, operative blood loss, and length of stay were not significantly different between groups. Perioperative mortality was higher in the radiochemotherapy group (13%) compared with the no radiochemotherapy group (5%) but did not achieve statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: EUS accurately stages esophageal carcinoma. Neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy downstages esophageal carcinoma for T and N status. In our nonrandomized study, neoadjuvant therapy conferred a significant survival advantage. Operative risk appears to be increased in patients receiving neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy prior to esophagectomy.     

Esophageal carcinoma: esophageal ultrasound assessment of preoperative chemotherapy.

The effect of preoperative chemotherapy in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma is difficult to assess because of the inadequacies of clinical staging. Endoscopic esophageal ultrasound (EUS) has been shown to be accurate in the clinical determination of depth of tumor invasion (T) and regional lymph node status (N). Therefore, EUS may be useful in assessing the effect of preoperative chemotherapy in the treatment of esophageal carcinoma. Eleven patients with operable adenocarcinoma of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction underwent staging by EUS before treatment. This was followed by two courses (10 patients) or one course (1 patient) of chemotherapy: etoposide, 120 mg/m2 for 3 days; doxorubicin hydrochloride, 20 mg/m2; and cisplatin, 100 mg/m2. Restaging by EUS was done after treatment. Ten patients then underwent resection of the tumor with lymphadenectomy. One patient was found to have metastatic disease at thoracotomy and did not undergo resection. However, tissue sampling was adequate for the determination of pathological stage. Independent pathological determinations of T and N were then obtained. On completion of chemotherapy, 9 patients (82%) had relief or reduction of preoperative symptoms, and 9 patients (82%) had either no evidence of tumor or reduction of tumor size by endoscopy. Despite this clinical and endoscopic response, no patient had EUS-documented and pathology-confirmed reduction of T. However, 2 patients had EUS-documented and pathology-confirmed progression of N. The accuracy of EUS in the determination of T was 82% and of N, 73%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration for staging patients with carcinoma of the lung

Background. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration is a safe, cost-effective procedure that can confirm the presence of mediastinal lymph node metastases and mediastinal tumor invasion. We studied the accuracy of EUS in a large population of lung cancer patients with and without enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on computed tomographic (CT) scan.

Methods. From 1996 to 2000 all patients referred to our institution with lung tumors and no proven distant metastases were considered for EUS and surgical staging. Patients had endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration of abnormal appearing mediastinal lymph nodes and evaluation for mediastinal invasion of tumor (stage III or IV disease). Patients without confirmed stage III or IV disease had surgical staging.

Results. Two hundred seventy-seven patients met the inclusion criteria, including 121 who had EUS. Endoscopic ultrasound and fine needle aspiration detected stage III or IV disease in 85 of 121 (70%). Among patients with enlarged lymph nodes on CT, 75 of 97 (77%) had stage III or IV disease detected by EUS. Among a small cohort of patients without enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes on CT, 10 of 24 (42%) had stage III or IV disease detected by EUS. For mediastinal lymph nodes only, the sensitivity of endoscopic ultrasound and CT was 87%. The specificity of EUS (100%) was superior to that of CT (32%) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions. Endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration identified and histologically confirmed mediastinal disease in more than two thirds of patients with carcinoma of the lung who have abnormal mediastinal CT scans. Although mediastinal disease was more likely in patients with an abnormal mediastinal CT, EUS also detected mediastinal disease in more than one third of patients with a normal mediastinal CT and deserves further study. Endoscopic ultrasound should be considered a first line method of presurgical evaluation of patients with tumors of the lung.     

Preoperative staging by multidetector-row computed tomography in patients with rectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT, or multi-slice CT) has been introduced in 2000. So far, there has been no published study on this modality in patients with rectal carcinoma. METHODS: Twenty patients with rectal carcinoma were preoperatively examined by MDCT and conventional CT (CCT). Diagnostic accuracies of both modalities were compared regarding the evaluation of depth of tumor invasion (Tis/T1/T2, T3, T4) and lymph node metastasis based on the pathologic findings. RESULTS: Although CCT detected a tumor in 13 (65%) of 20 patients, MDCT revealed a tumor in all 20 patients (P = 0.004). Regarding depth of tumor invasion, the concordance rate was significantly higher for MDCT (20/20: 100%) than for CCT (12 of 20: 60%; P = 0.002). Regarding lymph node metastasis, the overall accuracy was 70.0% in CCT, and also 70.0% in MDCT. CONCLUSIONS: MDCT was superior to CCT in the evaluation of depth of tumor invasion, but was equal to CCT in the evaluation of lymph node metastasis.     

食管癌术前放化疗后临床再分期的评价

目的探讨食管癌患者术前放化疗（pre-CRT）后采用影像学和内镜检查进行临床再分期的临床价值。方法对27例局部晚期食管鳞癌患者,在接受CRT治疗前采用颈部和胸部及腹部CT、食管超声内镜（EUS）、电子气管镜及PET-CT等检查进行临床分期;完成pre-CRT后再次进行分期。临床疗效评价采用RECIST标准,放化疗后3～6周施行手术,将术后病理结果与术前分期进行对照研究。对常规病理学检测为pT0和pN0病例的组织切片,采用免疫组织化学（免疫组化）染色检测原发灶及淋巴结中的微小肿瘤残留灶。结果全组pre．CRT后,CT对T及N分期的准确率分别为40．9％（9／22）和68．2％（15／22）,总的分期准确率为40．9％（9／22）;EUS对T及N分期的准确率分别为38．5％（5／13）和69．2％（9／13）,总的分期准确率为38．5％（5／13）。联合CT和EUS总的分期准确率为46．2％（6／13）。CRT结束后临床评价完全缓解（CR）5例,部分缓解（PR）14例,无缓解（SD）8例。5例临床评价cR者术后病理证实3例CR,1例pT3N1,1例虽经苏木精．伊红染色为pT0N0,但经免疫组化检测发现淋巴结存在微小肿瘤病灶残留。而术后病理结果pCR的5例患者中,除3例术前评价为CR外。另2例术前临床评价为PR。在15例N0的病例中,免疫组化检测有2例3个淋巴结仍可见食管癌细胞分布于其周边。结论目前常用的临床检查分期手段（食管吞钡、CT、EUS、内镜下病理活检等）和临床疗效评价手段（RECIST标准）对食管癌放化疗后的肿瘤组织反应评价准确率不高。建议CRT后临床评价食管癌CR的患者。仍应接受手术治疗。     

Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung invaded to esophagus: a case report of successful surgical treatment after preoperative transesophageal echographic evaluation

We describe a successful surgical case of a 78-year-old man with a squamous cell carcinoma of the lung invaded to the esophagus. Chest computed tomography on admission showed a tumor mass shadow in the left lower lobe (S⁶). The tumor was adjacent to the esophagus, which was a strongly suspected lung cancer with esophageal invasion. We performed the transesophageal endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for a detailed evaluation of the degree of invasion, and we obtained the findings of localized tumor invasion into the muscular coat of the esophagus. The tumor invaded to the esophagus perioperatively, and we could remove all the involved area with enough surgical margin. We believe that the preoperative evaluation using EUS is a useful procedure, if we suspect the lung cancer with esophageal invasion.     

Endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma

Summary In selection for esophageal cancer treatment, it is necessary to evaluate the tumor stage. We have used endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for diagnosis of the depth of cancer invasion and the presence of lymph node metastasis since 1983. The EUS image of the normal esophageal wall showed 5 layers. In all, 222 cases of esophageal cancer were examined with EUS, and a radical operation was performed on 139. In 78 of those cases, the scope was passed beyond the cancer site, and total observation was achieved (56%). The extent of cancer invasion was correctly determined in these 78 cases (84%). Thoracic lymph nodes that could be detected by EUS were located in the posterior mediastinum and measured more than 3 mm in diameter. Diagnostic criteria for lymph node metastasis were designated as follows: (1) spherical shape, (2) a distinct border, and (3) heterogenous echo spots within the nodes. The above criteria yielded a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 90%, and an overall accuracy of 89% according to the histological examination of the removed lymph nodes.     

Endoscopic ultrasound does not accurately assess pathologic stage of esophageal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy

The accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for initial staging of esophageal cancer is widely accepted. There is, however, considerable variability in the reported accuracy of EUS for restaging of esophageal neoplasms after neoadjuvant therapy. From June 1995 through December 1999, we prospectively studied a series of 26 patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment for esophageal cancer and were subsequently restaged by EUS before resection. Twenty-four patients had adenocarcinoma (92%), and two patients had squamous cell carcinoma (8%). EUS correctly predicted tumor stage in seven of 26 patients for an overall accuracy of 27 per cent. EUS overestimated the depth of tumor penetration in 18 patients (69%) and underestimated depth of penetration in one patient (4%). Lymph nodes were correctly staged in 15 of 26 patients for an overall accuracy of 58 per cent. Levels of sensitivity for detecting N0 and N1 disease were 44 per cent and 80 per cent respectively. Patients with a complete pathologic response were staged as T4N1 (one patient), T3N1 (three patients), T3N0 (one patient), and T2N1 (two patients). EUS cannot distinguish tumor involvement of the esophageal wall and lymph nodes from the postinflammatory changes that characterize effective neoadjuvant treatment. EUS is of limited utility in guiding clinical decision making after neoadjuvant therapy.     

Endoscopic ultrasonography in the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma

In selection for esophageal cancer treatment, it is necessary to evaluate the tumor stage. We have used endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for diagnosis of the depth of cancer invasion and the presence of lymph node metastasis since 1983. The EUS image of the normal esophageal wall showed 5 layers. In all, 222 cases of esophageal cancer were examined with EUS, and a radical operation was performed on 139. In 78 of those cases, the scope was passed beyond the cancer site, and total observation was achieved (56%). The extent of cancer invasion was correctly determined in these 78 cases (84%). Thoracic lymph nodes that could be detected by EUS were located in the posterior mediastinum and measured more than 3 mm in diameter. Diagnostic criteria for lymph node metastasis were designated as follows: (1) spherical shape, (2) a distinct border, and (3) heterogenous echo spots within the nodes. The above criteria yielded a sensitivity of 87%, a specificity of 90%, and an overall accuracy of 89% according to the histological examination of the removed lymph nodes.     

A prospective comparison between multidetector-row computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the preoperative evaluation of rectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT, or multislice CT) is a new modality with four detectors, which makes examination time shorter and produces higher resolution and multiplanar reformation of the images. Its diagnostic role in patients with rectal carcinoma has not been determined. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with rectal carcinoma were preoperatively examined by both MDCT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Diagnostic accuracies of both modalities were compared regarding depth of tumor invasion and lymph node metastasis based on the pathologic findings. RESULTS: Both examinations detected all tumors. Regarding depth of tumor invasion, the concordance was 95.2% (20 of 21) for MDCT and 100% (21 of 21) for MRI. Regarding lymph node metastasis, the overall accuracy was 61.9% for MDCT and 70.0% for MRI. CONCLUSIONS: Multidetector-row computed tomography was equal to MRI in the preoperative local staging of rectal carcinoma.     

Clinical impact of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of celiac axis lymph nodes (M1a disease) in esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to determine how endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) with a histology confirmed biopsy protocol impacted on staging and managing esophageal carcinoma in terms of resectability and neoadjuvant therapy (chemotherapy and radiation therapy). METHODS: The records of 40 consecutive patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer referred for EUS staging were reviewed. Computed tomography (CT) scan then EUS imaging and EUS-guided FNA staging, including involvement of celiac node (M1a stage), surgical pathology, and subsequent treatment were correlated. Through-the-scope balloons were used for dilatation when needed to examine the celiac nodes. RESULTS: All 40 patients followed the protocol and were successfully imaged by EUS. Sixteen of the 40 required esophageal dilatation using the through-the-scope balloon. No complications were observed from esophageal dilatation for EUS. Twenty-three (58%) met the criteria for EUS-guided FNA biopsy from a total of 40 EUS imaging procedures. Twenty (87%) of the 23 EUS-guided FNA were directed toward the celiac nodes; 18 (90%) of the 20 were positive for malignancy and were treated by chemoradiation therapy and 2 (10%) FNA were negative for malignancy and were treated by surgical resection. The CT scan was able to detect only 6 (30%) of 20 cases of suspicious celiac lymph nodes, of which 5 (83%) were positive for malignancy by FNA. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-guided FNA of celiac nodes (20 patients) directed management in all patients biopsied. EUS-guided FNA is superior to CT scan for diagnosing M1a disease. Protocol-directed EUS-guided FNA is a pivotal study when used in conjunction with stage-oriented treatment protocols for esophageal carcinoma.