Pathological analysis and endoscopic ultrasonography in diagnosis of submucosal tumors of esophagus

Background:

Submucosal tumours (SMTs) are relatively common findings in patients undergoing endoscopy, especially in upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This term includes various non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is the best imaging procedure to characterise SMT and to determine the need for further explorations. In this review, the following issues will be addressed: the endosonographic features of SMT; the diagnostic accuracy of EUS; the ability of EUS to distinguish benign and malignant SMTs.

Aim:

Review the examination of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in combination with pathological results, to evaluate the value of EUS in diagnosis of submucosal tumor (SMT) of esophagus.

Methods:

We analyzed the results of EUS and pathological results of the patients, retrospectively, who underwent EUS and endoscopic therapy from January 2002 to June 2010.

Results:

Among these 348 cases, 83 of which were located in upper esophagus, 156 cases were located in medium esophagus and 109 in lower esophagus, respectively. Leiomyoma was the most common reason for submucosal tumor of esophagus, accounting for 61.2%;followed by cysts (10.6%), other invasive lesions (10.1%), angioma (8.3%), lipoma (4.3%), GIST (2.9%), esophageal carcinoma (2.3%) and neurilemmoma (0.3%). 136 cases were found in muscularis mucosae, while other 77 located in muscularis propria, in all 213 cases of esophageal leiomyoma.

Conclusion:

EUS is a convenient, safe and effective method for SMT, and it can be clue to the location and nature of SMT.

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