Clinicopathologic factors influencing the accuracy of EUS for superficial esophageal carcinoma

AIM:To identify clinicopathologic factors influencing the accuracy of a high-frequency catheter probe endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)for superficial esophageal carcinomas(SECs).METHODS:A total of 126 patients with endoscopically suspected SEC,who underwent EUS and curative treatment at Pusan National University Hospital during2005-2013,were enrolled.We reviewed the medical records of the 126 patients and compared EUS findings with histopathologic results according to clinicopathologic factors.RESULTS:A total of 114 lesions in 113 patients were included in the final analysis.The EUS assessment of tumor invasion depth was accurate in 78.9%(90/114)patients.Accuracy did not differ according to histologic type,tumor differentiation,tumor location,or macroscopic shape.However,accuracy significantly decreased for tumors≥3 cm in size(P=0.002).Overestimation and underestimation of the invasion depth occurred for 11(9.6%)and 13 lesions(11.4%),respectively.In multivariate analyses,tumor size≥3 cm was the only factor significantly associated with EUS accuracy(P=0.031),and was specifically associated with the underestimation of invasion depth.CONCLUSION:EUS using a high-frequency catheter probe generally provides highly accurate assessments of SEC invasion depth,but its accuracy decreases for tumors≥3 cm.