The role of endoscopic ultrasound in staging of esophageal cancer
Objective: To determine features of endoscopic ultrasound in esophageal cancer and relation with clinic, endoscopy and computerized tomography. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 40 patients indicated for endoscopic ultrasound to staging esophageal cancer. Results: The total number of patients studied in study were 40. The middle and lower 1/3rd of esophagus affected more commonly compare to other parts. Mean length of tumor in endoscopy was 5.19 ± 2.37cm. The majority of patients presented late with advanced stage of cancer in endoscopy (90%). Squamous cell carcinoma (95%) was the most common histopathological type. CT/TNM staging was documented in 33 (82.5%) patients: T1 (3.1%), T2 (25%), T3 (53.1%), T4a (12.5%), T4b (6.3%), N0 (30.3%). Staging by ultrasonoscopy: Tis (2.5%), T1a (5%), T1b (0), T2 (7.5%), T3 (42.5%), T4a (32.5%), T4b (10%). The predictive value of tumor length was significant in patients with N0 or lympho node status (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Endoscopic ultrasound improved the diagnostic accuracy of esophageal cancer staging. Key words: endoscopic ultrasound, esophageal cance