Comparison of a linear miniature ultrasound probe and a radial-scanning echoendoscope in TN staging of esophageal cancer

Background: Endoscopic ultrasonography is a precise method for TN staging o f esophageal cancer. We explored the staging properties of a linear minipro be as compared with a radial-scanning echoendoscope. Methods: Sixty-eight p atients with esophageal cancer underwent preoperative TN staging using a 20 -MHz linear miniprobe and a 7.5/12-MHz radial-scanning echoendoscope. Tumor stage was verified by surgery and/or histology. Results: T and N stages we re verified in 53 and 54 patients, respectively. T-staging accuracy using t he echoendoscope was 70%. The high-frequency miniprobe could not differenti ate between T3 and T4 tumors, but both systems had an accuracy of 87% in di scriminating between T1, T2, and T3/4 stages. With traversable tumors, the accuracy of N staging was significantly better with the echoendoscope than with the miniprobe (90% vs. 48%, P=0.008). Conclusions: The two endosonogra phic systems had similar accuracy for assessing transmural tumor growth, bu t the echoendoscope was superior in staging advanced transmural tumors and in predicting lymph node metastasis with traversable tumors.