Evaluation of prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus by endoscopic ultrasonography

Background/aims-For pretherapeutic staging of squamous cell carcinoma of th e oesophagus, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is considered the most profi table modality because it can provide cross sectional imaging of the tumour . The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between prognosis and BUS findings, especially tumour area, in squamous cell carcinoma of the oes ophagus. Patients/methods-A total of 113 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of th e oesophagus underwent EUS for pretherapeutic examination at Nagoya Univers ity Hospital. We compared EUS findings, histological results, and outcome. In addition, we measured the area of the tumour on EUS images (n=113) and e valuated if EUS area correlated with volume of the tumour on histological f indings (n=50). Results-The overall accuracy rate of EUS was 83.2% (94/113) for depth of tu mour invasion and 67.6% (69/102) for perioesophageal lymph node metastasis. The EUS area increased in proportion to the development of tumour infiltra tion, and patients with lymph node metastasis had a larger EUS area than pa tients without lymph node metastasis. There was a close correlation between EUS area and volume of the tumour on histological findings. If EUS area of the tumour was less than 50 mm(2)? the five year survival rate was 100%. A s EUS area increased, the survival rate decreased. Conclusions Measurement of EUS area of the tumour is reliable for quantific ation of the tumour and prediction of prognosis in patients with squamous c ell carcinoma of the oesophagus.