| Abstract |
Εndoscopic Ultrasonography (EUS, endosonography) is a new diagnostic tool that has been evolved over the past 15 years. It combines the advantages of endoscopy with the capabilities of ultrasonography, giving important diagnostic information about the gastrointestinal wall. Its diagnostic capacity is based on the analysis of the layer structure. Direct contact of the transducer with the lumen has as consequence a detailed analysis of the splachnic wall. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capabilities of EUS in diagnosing tumours of superior gastrointestinal (GI) tract, to assess its contribution in the diagnostic process of lesions suspected for malignancy, to assess the contribution of EUS in staging according to the TNM system for malignant tumours and to compare EUS with CT as far as diagnostic accuracy is concerned. We studied 326 patients, 201 men and 125 women (aged 18-82 years. M=53 years) with benign, malignant tumours or with endoscopic or clinical suspicion of tumour in oesophagus, stomach or duodenum. 15 healthy individuals were included in the study in order to determine the normal appearance of the upper GI wall, were also included in an effort to identify the cause. Provisional diagnoses were: stromal (mesenchymal) tumours, polyps, stenoses suspected for malignancy, achalasia, gastric ulcers suspected for malignancy, malignant diseases in the oesophagus, stomach and ampulla of Vater. The results were compared with the final diagnosis. The GF-UM3 (Olympus Co.) endosonographic system was used with frequencies 7,5 and 12 MHz We found that the method can differentiate with α high success rate between benign and malignant tumours, determine the depth of cancer invasion with high precision and give information about metastatic lymph nodes in patients with malignant tumours. Endosonography offers important information concerning type and margin of benign tumour.
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Ο ρόλος της ενδοσκοπικής υπερηχοτομογραφίας στη διαφορική διάγνωση των όγκων του ανώτερου πεπτικού
