Comparison of a Linear Miniature Ultrasound Probe and a Radial-scanning Echoendoscope in TN Staging of Esophageal Cancer

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Abstract
Background: Endoscopic ultrasonography is a precise method for TN staging of esophageal cancer. We explored the staging properties of a linear miniprobe as compared with a radial-scanning echoendoscope. Methods: Sixty-eight patients 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 were verified in 53 and 54 patients, respectively. T-staging accuracy using the echoendoscope was 70%. The high-frequency miniprobe could not differentiate between T3 and T4 tumors, but both systems had an accuracy of 87% in discriminating 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 endosonographic systems had similar accuracy for assessing transmural tumor growth, but the echoendoscope was superior in staging advanced transmural tumors and in predicting lymph node metastasis with traversable tumors.