ENDOLUMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY - A NEW METHOD TO EVALUATE DYSPHAGIA

Dysphagia consists of various diseases, which all lead to an impaired quality of life. Besides a thorough case history and clinical examinat ion, there is a need for objective diagnostic examinations to evaluate the extent of the disease. The present study includes 38 patients suf fering from the most common causes of dysphagia such as benign or mali gnant strictures of the esophagus, esophagitis, achalasia cardiae, cri copharyngeal dysfunction and motility disorders. The patients were exa mined by endoluminal ultrasonography using a 2.7 mm-wide-probe. The pr esent study clearly indicates the value of the method in evaluating th e extent of the disease in patients suffering from the aforementioned diseases.