REVIEWS   

Minerva Chirurgica 1999 April;54(4):251-6

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Value and limits of endosonography in the clinical staging of esophageal cancer

Atella F., De Cesare A., Bononi M., Angelini M., Galati G., Fiori E., Volpino P., Cangemi V.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a diagnostic method of considerable value for the local staging of esophageal cancer, in particular for T and N evaluation. After an extensive review of the literature, the authors underline the possibility of using EUS to improve the treatment and prognosis of esophageal neoplasms based on the use of various stage-dependent therapeutic strategies. EUS is regarded as a gold-standard technique for esophageal cancer staging in order to select appropriate treatment options, but is currently hampered by the intrinsic difficulty and subjectivity of interpreting ultrasonographic images. In order to ensure safe and reliable data, EUS must be carried out by operators who have urldergone suitable training at a specialised centre.