Staging of esophageal cancer by EUS: staging accuracy revisited

Diagnostic Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) of the Luminal Gastrointestinal Tract

The purpose of this review is to focus on the diagnostic endoscopic ultrasound of the gastrointestinal tract. In the last decades, EUS has gained a central role in the staging of epithelial and sub-epithelial lesions of the gastrointestinal tract. With the evolution of imaging, the position of EUS in the diagnostic work-up and the staging flow-chart has continuously changed with two extreme positions: some gastroenterologists think that EUS is absolutely indispensable, and some think it is utterly useless. The truth is, as always, somewhere in between the two extremes. Analyzing the most up-to-date and strong evidence, we will try to give EUS the correct position in our daily practice.

Diagnostic value of conventional endoscopic ultrasound for lymph node metastasis in upper gastrointestinal neoplasia: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Upper gastrointestinal neoplasia mainly includes esophageal cancer and gastric cancer, both of which have high morbidity and mortality. Lymph node metastasis (LNM), as the most common metastasis mode of both diseases, is an important factor affecting tumor stage, treatment strategy and clinical prognosis. As a new fusion technology, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is becoming increasingly used in the diagnosis and treatment of digestive system diseases, but its use in detecting LNM in clinical practice remains limited.

AIM

To evaluate the diagnostic value of conventional EUS for LNM in upper gastrointestinal neoplasia.

METHODS

Using the search mode of "MeSH + Entry Terms" and according to the predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, we conducted a comprehensive search and screening of the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library databases from January 1, 2000 to October 1, 2022. Study data were extracted according to the predetermined data extraction form. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool, and the results of the quality assessment were presented using Review Manager 5.3.5 software. Finally, Stata14.0 software was used for a series of statistical analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 22 studies were included in our study, including 2986 patients. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, diagnostic score and diagnostic odds ratio of conventional EUS in the diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal neoplasia LNM were 0.62 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50-0.73], 0.80 (95%CI: 0.73-0.86), 3.15 (95%CI: 2.46-4.03), 0.47 (95%CI: 0.36-0.61), 1.90 (95%CI: 1.51-2.29) and 6.67 (95%CI: 4.52-9.84), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.80 (95%CI: 0.76-0.83). Sensitivity analysis indicated that the results of the meta-analysis were stable. There was considerable heterogeneity among the included studies, and the threshold effect was an important source of heterogeneity. Univariable meta-regression and subgroup analysis showed that tumor type, sample size and EUS diagnostic criteria were significant sources of heterogeneity in specificity (P < 0.05). No significant publication bias was found.

CONCLUSION

Conventional EUS has certain clinical value and can assist in the detection of LNM in upper gastrointestinal neoplasia, but it cannot be used as a confirmatory or exclusionary test.

Role of endoscopic ultrasound for pre-intervention evaluation in early esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) stands as an accurate imaging modality for esophageal cancer staging, however utilization of EUS in early-stage cancer management remains controversial. Identification of non-applicability of endoscopic interventions with deep muscular invasion with EUS in pre-intervention evaluation of early-stage esophageal cancer is compared to endoscopic and histologic indicators.

AIM

To display the role of EUS in pre-intervention early esophageal cancer staging and how the index endoscopic features of invasive esophageal malignancy compare for prediction of depth of invasion and cancer management.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of patients who underwent pre-resection EUS after a diagnosis of esophageal cancer at a tertiary medical center from 2012 to 2022. Patient clinical data, initial esophagogastroduodenoscopy/biopsy, EUS, and final resection pathology reports were abstracted, and statistical analysis was conducted to assess the role of EUS in management decisions.

RESULTS

Forty nine patients were identified for this study. EUS T stage was concordant with histological T stage in 75.5% of patients. In determining submucosal involvement (T1a vs T1b), EUS had a specificity of 85.0%, sensitivity of 53.9%, and accuracy of 72.7%. Endoscopic features of tumor size > 2 cm and the presence of esophageal ulceration were significantly associated with deep invasion of cancer on histology. EUS affected management from endoscopic mucosal resection/submucosal dissection to esophagectomy in 23.5% of patients without esophageal ulceration and 6.9% of patients with tumor size < 2 cm. In patients without both endoscopic findings, EUS identified deeper cancer and changed management in 4.8% (1/20) of cases.

CONCLUSION

EUS was reasonably specific in ruling out submucosal invasion but had relatively poor sensitivity. Data validated endoscopic indicators suggested superficial cancers in the group with a tumor size < 2 cm and the lack of esophageal ulceration. In patients with these findings, EUS rarely identified a deep cancer that warranted a change in management.

Endoscopic Management of Esophageal Cancer

Advances in technology and improved understanding of the pathobiology of esophageal cancer have allowed endoscopy to serve a growing role in the management of this disease. Precursor lesions can be detected using enhanced diagnostic modalities and eradicated with ablation therapy. Furthermore, evolution in endoscopic resection has provided larger specimens for improved diagnostic accuracy and offer potential for cure of early esophageal cancer. In patients with advanced esophageal cancer, endoluminal therapy can improve symptom burden and provide therapeutic options for complications such as leaks, perforations, and fistulas. The purpose of this review article is to highlight the role of endoscopy in the diagnosis, treatment, and palliation of esophageal cancer.

An updated review of the TNM classification system for cancer of the oesophagus and its complications

Cancer of the esophagus is an aggressive cancer with high mortality. Because of the esophagus's lack of serosa and its peculiar lymphatic drainage, esophageal cancer is diagnosed in advanced stages. The eighth edition of the TNM (2017) aims to standardize care for esophageal cancer throughout the world; it includes not only patients treated with esophagectomy alone, but also those receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. One new development in the eighth edition is that it establishes separate classifications for different time periods, with pathologic stage groups for prior to treatment (cTNM), after esophagectomy (pTNM), and after neoadjuvant therapy (ypTNM). The combined use of endoscopic ultrasound, CT, PET-CT, and MRI provides the greatest accuracy in determining the clinical stage, and these techniques are essential for planning treatment and for evaluating the response to neoadjuvant treatment. Esophagectomy continues to be the main treatment; it is also the elective gastrointestinal surgery that has the highest mortality, and it carries the risk of multiple complications, including anastomotic leaks, pulmonary complications, technical complications, and functional complications.

Esophageal Cancer: Tumor-Node-Metastasis Staging

Esophageal cancer is an uncommon malignancy that ranks sixth in terms of mortality worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma is the predominant histologic subtype worldwide whereas adenocarcinoma represents the majority of cases in North America, Australia, and Europe. Esophageal cancer is staged using the American Joint Committee on Cancer and the International Union for Cancer Control TNM system and has separate classifications for the clinical, pathologic, and postneoadjuvant pathologic stage groups. The determination of clinical TNM is based on complementary imaging modalities, including esophagogastroduodenoscopy/endoscopic ultrasound; endoscopic ultrasound-fine-needle aspiration; computed tomography of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis; and fluorodeoxyglucose PET/computed tomography.

Value of spectral detector CT for pretherapeutic, locoregional assessment of esophageal cancer

PURPOSE

To investigate the diagnostic value of spectral detector dual-energy CT-derived low-keV virtual monoenergetic images (VMI) and iodine overlays (IO) for locoregional, pretherapeutic assessment of esophageal cancer.

METHOD

74 patients with biopsy-proven esophageal cancer who underwent pre-therapeutic, portal-venous-phase staging examinations of the chest and abdomen were retrospectively included. Quantitative image analysis was performed ROI-based within the tumor, healthy esophageal wall, peri-esophageal lymph nodes, azygos vein, aorta, liver, diaphragm, and mediastinal fat. Two radiologists evaluated delineation of the primary tumor and locoregional lymph nodes, assessment of the celiac trunk and diagnostic certainty regarding tumor infiltration in conventional images (CI), VMI from 40 to 70 keV and IO. Moreover, presence/absence of advanced tumor infiltration (T3/T4) was determined binary using all available images.

RESULTS

VMI_40-60keV showed significantly higher attenuation and signal-to-noise ratio compared to CI for all assessed ROIs, peaking at VMI_40keV (p < 0.05). Contrast-to-noise ratio of tumor/esophagus (VMI_40keV/CI: 7.7 ± 4.7 vs. 2.3 ± 1.5), tumor/diaphragm (VMI_40keV/CI: 9.0 ± 5.5 vs. 2.2 ± 1.7) and tumor/liver (4.3 ± 5.5 vs. 1.9 ± 2.1) were all significantly higher compared to CI (p < 0.05). Qualitatively, lymph node delineation and diagnostic certainty regarding tumor infiltration received highest ratings both in IO and VMI_40keV, whereas vascular assessment was rated highest in VMI_40keV and primary tumor delineation in IO. Sensitivity/Specificity/Accuracy for detecting advanced tumor infiltration using the combination of CI, VMI_40-70keV and IO was 42.4 %/82.0 %/56.3 %.

CONCLUSIONS

IO and VMI_40-60keV improve qualitative assessment of the primary tumor and depiction of lymph nodes and vessels at pretherapeutic SDCT of esophageal cancer patients yet do not mitigate the limitations of CT in determining tumor infiltration.

An updated review of the TNM classification system for cancer of the esophagus and its complications

Cancer of the esophagus is an aggressive cancer with high mortality. Because of the esophagus's lack of serosa and its peculiar lymphatic drainage, esophageal cancer is diagnosed in advanced stages. The eighth edition of the TNM (2017) aims to standardize care for esophageal cancer throughout the world; it includes not only patients treated with esophagectomy alone, but also those receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. One new development in the eighth edition is that it establishes separate classifications for different time periods, with pathologic stage groups for prior to treatment (cTNM), after esophagectomy (pTNM), and after neoadjuvant therapy (ypTNM). The combined use of endoscopic ultrasound, CT, PET-CT, and MRI provides the greatest accuracy in determining the clinical stage, and these techniques are essential for planning treatment and for evaluating the response to neoadjuvant treatment. Esophagectomy continues to be the main treatment; it is also the elective gastrointestinal surgery that has the highest mortality, and it carries the risk of multiple complications, including anastomotic leaks, pulmonary complications, technical complications, and functional complications.

Accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound in esophageal cancer staging

Since its advent in the 1980s endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has played an important role in the diagnosis, staging, and therapeutic management of various gastrointestinal malignancies. EUS has emerged as a vital tool in the evaluation of esophageal cancer as it provides a detailed view of the layers of the esophageal wall and surrounding tissues. This permits determination of tumor invasion depth and local lymph node metastases. It is the most sensitive and specific method available for locoregional staging of esophageal cancer. The information obtained via EUS is vital in determining the appropriate diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options. Thus, this article aims to present a review of the accuracy and utilization of EUS in the staging of esophageal cancer.

Esophageal cancer N staging study with endoscopic ultrasonography

Esophageal cancer staging is important for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a common diagnostic tool for esophageal cancer prior to surgery. However, EUS is unable to accurately discriminate the N-staging of lymph nodes. In order to distinguish an optimized standard for malignant lymph node diagnosis, the present study compared lymph nodes detected by EUS and surgery. A total of 112 patients were preoperatively examined with EUS and staged according to the 7th Edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual. The results of EUS were compared with surgical findings. The critical values of long diameter, short diameter and lymph node number detected by EUS were >7.5, >5.5 mm and >2, respectively; indexes, including long diameter >7.5 mm, short diameter >5.5 mm, round, low echo, edge smooth, near lesion and detected lymph node number (>2) and T3/4 staging, met significance in the EUS group compared with the surgical group (P<0.05). Furthermore, the area under curve (AUC) value of the EUS (0.801) was superior to the conventional, surgical method (0.779). Although EUS improved the diagnostic accuracy of esophageal N staging, it was not able to satisfactorily distinguish between N2 and N3 staging. Advancements in EUS may enhance its detection ability, further improving the diagnostic accuracy of lymph node metastasis.

Endoscopic Treatment of Early-Stage Esophageal Cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Esophageal cancer is a leading cause of global cancer-related mortality. Here, we discuss the major endoscopic treatment modalities for management of early esophageal cancer (EEC).

RECENT FINDINGS

Advances in endoscopic imaging and therapy have shifted the paradigm of managing early esophageal cancers. Though esophagectomy remains the preferred management for advanced cancers, guidelines now recommend endoscopic resection followed by ablative therapy for early (Tis and T1a) cancers. Available data suggests endoscopic treatment is comparable to surgery with regard to overall and cancer-specific survival with lower procedural morbidity and mortality. Endoscopic modalities are emerging as frontline treatment options for patients with early esophageal cancers. Accurate clinical staging with assessment of disease extent, tumor grade, and risk of nodal metastases is crucial when determining eligibility for endoscopic management of EEC. High-quality routine surveillance endoscopy is critical in patients who have undergone resection and/or ablation.

Utility of endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopy in diagnosis and management of hepatocellular carcinoma and its complications: What does endoscopic ultrasonography offer above and beyond conventional cross-sectional imaging?

Hepatocellular carcinoma constitutes over 90% of the primary liver tumors, the rest being cholangiocarcinoma. It has an insidious presentation, which is responsible for the delayed presentation. Hence, the management strategy relies on screening to diagnose it an early stage for curative resection and/or treatment with local ablative techniques or chemotherapy. However, even with different screening programs, more than 60% of tumors are still detected at an advanced stage, leading to an unchanged mortality rate, thereby implying a room for improvement in the screening and diagnostic process. In the last few years, there has been evolution of utility of endoscopy, specifically endoscopic ultrasonography along with Fine needle aspiration, for this purpose, which we comprehensively review in this article.

Endoscopic ultrasound for preoperative staging of esophageal cancer: Application value and problems encountered

AIM

To assess the value of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in preoperative staging of esophageal cancer and discuss the problems encountered.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted on 388 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent EUS examination and esophagectomy from April 2014 to September 2016 at our hospital. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS in preoperative staging of esophageal cancer and compared the characteristics of the patients with and without stenosis.

RESULTS

The diagnostic accuracy of EUS for T1, T2, T3 and T4 stages was 92.8%, 82.9%, 84.5%, and 95.4%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of EUS for the diagnosis of N1+ were 59.6%, 81.8% and 69.2%, respectively. In patients with stenosis, 79.5% had T3+ and 64.4% had N1+, both of which were significantly higher than those in patients without stenosis (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The accuracy of EUS in T staging in patients with esophageal cancer is high, and it is a reliable diagnostic tool. For patients with stenosis, pre-dilatation should be omitted and the patients should be referred for neoadjuvant therapy.

Utility of dysphagia grade in predicting endoscopic ultrasound T-stage of non-metastatic esophageal cancer

Patients with non-metastatic esophageal cancer routinely undergo endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) for loco-regional staging. Neoadjuvant therapy is recommended for ≥T3 tumors while upfront surgery can be considered for ≤T2 lesions. The aim of this study was to determine if the degree of dysphagia can predict the EUS T-stage of esophageal cancer. One hundred eleven consecutive patients with non-metastatic esophageal cancer were retrospectively reviewed from a database. Prior to EUS, patients' dysphagia grade was recorded. Correlation between dysphagia grade and EUS T-stage, especially in reference to predicting ≥T3 stage, was determined. The correlation of dysphagia grade with EUS T-stage (Kendall's tau coefficient) was 0.49 (P < 0.001) for the lower and 0.59 (P = 0.008) for the middle esophagus. The sensitivity and specificity of dysphagia grade ≥2 (can only swallow semi-solids/liquids) for T3 cancer were 56% (95% confidence interval [CI] 43-67%) and 93% (95% CI 79-98%), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value of dysphagia grade ≥3 (can only swallow liquids or total dysphagia) for T3 lesions were 36% (95% CI 25-48%), 100% (95% CI 89-100%), and 100% (95% CI 83-100%), respectively. Overall, there was a significant positive correlation between dysphagia grade and the EUS T-stage of esophageal cancer. All patients with dysphagia grade ≥3 had T3 lesions. This may have clinical implications for patients who can only swallow liquids or have complete dysphagia by allowing for prompt initiation of neoadjuvant therapy, especially in countries/centers where EUS service is difficult to access in a timely manner or not available.

Endoscopic options for early stage esophageal cancer

Surgery has traditionally been the preferred treatment for early stage esophageal cancer. Recent advances in endoscopic treatments have been shown to be effective and safe. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) allow endoscopists to remove small, superficial lesions, providing tumor specimen that can be examined for accurate pathologic tumor staging and assessment of adequacy of resection. Endoscopic ablation procedures, including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and radio frequency ablation (RFA), have also been shown to safely and effectively treat esophageal dysplasia and early stage neoplasia, with excellent long-term disease control. Both approaches are becoming more widely available around the world, and provide an alternative, safe, low risk strategy for treating early stage disease, making combined endoscopic therapy the recommended treatment of choice for early stage esophageal cancers.

Staging accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound performed by nonexpert endosonographers in patients with resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: is it possible?

The accuracy of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is operator-dependent. According to learning curve study, the accuracy of EUS T-staging for esophageal cancer has been reported to be greater in an investigator who had performed at least 100 EUS examinations. We determined comparative study regarding T-staging accuracy of EUS for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma between expert and nonexpert endoscopic ultrasonographers. We retrospectively identified 73 consecutive patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent EUS and endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, or surgery. EUS was performed by expert (Group 1) and nonexpert (Group 2) endoscopic ultrasonographers in multitertiary hospitals. Groups 1 and 2 were 37 and 36 patients during 2005-2011, respectively. Forty-two patients (57.5%) of the overall patients underwent surgical exploration. Correct endoscopic ultrasonographic T-staging of Group 1 was observed in 34 (91.9%) patients, while that of Group 2 was observed in 26 (72.2%) patients. And there was significant difference in correct endoscopic ultrasonographic T-staging between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.035). The incorrect endoscopic ultrasonographic T-staging of Group 1 were three cases that were overstaging (8.1%), but in Group 2 there were seven overstaging (19.4%) and three understaging (8.3%). There was no significant difference in overstaging or understaging of incorrect endoscopic ultrasonographic T-staging between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.528). This study first provides evidence that endoscopic ultrasonographic T-staging of nonexpert endoscopic ultrasonographers was inferior to be correct, compared with that of expert endoscopic ultrasonographers. EUS staging for esophageal cancer should be performed by expert endoscopic ultrasonographers to provide appropriate management strategy.

Appraisal of staging endoscopic ultrasonography in a modern high-volume esophageal program

BACKGROUND

Accurate pretreatment staging is essential to decision making for patients with esophageal and junctional cancers, particularly when choosing endoscopic therapy or a multimodal approach. As the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been reported as variable, we assessed it prospectively in a large cohort from a high-volume center.

METHODS

The EUS data from 2007 to 2011 were reviewed and analyzed. We conducted a comparative analysis with computed tomography-positron emission tomography (CT-PET) staging and pathology. Survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier testing on EUS-predicted T- and N-stage cohorts.

RESULTS

Altogether, 222 patients underwent EUS. Among patients undergoing primary surgical resection, preoperative EUS diagnosed the T stage correctly in 71 % (55/77) of cases. Sensitivity and specificity for T1, T2, and T3 tumors were 94 and 89 %, 55 and 80 %, and 66 and 93 %, respectively. Mean maximum standard uptake volume on CT-PET correlated moderately with the EUS T stage (r = 0.42, p < 0.0001). EUS accuracy for nodal disease was 65 %. Survival was statistically better for the EUS T1 group than for those with T3 tumors (p = 0.01). Nodal metastases diagnosed on EUS predicted a significantly worse prognosis than EUS-negative nodes on both univariate and multivariate analyses (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.005 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a significant relation between EUS T and N stages and overall survival. EUS demonstrated 71 % accuracy for the overall T stage. Staging accuracy of EUS for large lesions was less effective than for T1 tumors, underlining the need for a multimodal investigative approach to stage esophageal tumors accurately.

Endoscopic ultrasonography for staging of T1a and T1b esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the accuracy of Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in staging and sub-staging T1a and T1b esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

METHODS: A retrospective analysis involving 72 patients with pathologically confirmed T1a or T1b ESCC, was undertaken between January 2005 and December 2011 in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center. The accuracy and efficiency of EUS for detecting stages T1a and T1b ESCC were examined.

RESULTS: The overall accuracy of EUS for detecting stage T1a or T1b ESCC was 70.8% (51/72), and the sensitivity was 74.3%. 77.8% (7/9) of lesions originated in the upper thoracic region, 73.1% (38/52) in the mid-thoracic region and 72.7% (8/11) in the lower thoracic region. Multivariate analysis revealed that the diagnostic accuracy of EUS was closely related to lesion length (F = 4.984, P = 0.029).

CONCLUSION: EUS demonstrated median degree of accuracy for distinguishing between stages T1a and T1b ESCC. Therefore, it is necessary to improve EUS for staging early ESCC.

Endoscopic ultrasound staging of stenotic esophageal cancers may be unnecessary to determine the need for neoadjuvant therapy

INTRODUCTION

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an essential component of preoperative staging for esophageal cancer and is used to determine which patients should proceed to primary surgical resection or receive neoadjuvant therapy prior to surgery. However, when the EUS scope cannot traverse a tumor, the role of pre-dilatation is controversial due to the risk of perforation.

METHODS

A retrospective review was conducted of all patients with esophageal tumor stenosis that could not accommodate the EUS scope who then proceeded with primary esophagectomy. The pathology results were classified based on the revised seventh edition American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system.

RESULTS

A total of 27 patients met inclusion criteria. The majority of tumors were T3 (24/27, 89 %). There were no stage I tumors, 15 % (4/27) were stage II, 81 % (22/27) were stage III, and 4 % (1/27) were stage IV due to a resected solitary lung metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Tumors that cannot be assessed with an EUS scope due to tumor stenosis will have locally advanced disease in the majority of cases. In these situations, pre-dilatation of the tumor with EUS staging should be omitted when considering the risk of potential esophageal perforation and the patients should be referred for neoadjuvant therapy.

Evolving role of endoscopic ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration in tumor staging and treatment of patients with carcinomas of the upper gastrointestinal tract

INTRODUCTION

Treatments such as neoadjuvant chemotherapy and endoscopic mucosal resection for upper gastrointestinal carcinomas (UGC) necessitates preoperative staging evaluation of lymph nodes. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of lymph nodes provides more accurate staging than EUS alone. Our study investigates the role of EUS-FNA in the staging/treatment of patients with UGC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We searched our database for patients who had EUS-FNA staging of lymph nodes for UGC over 1 year. The cytologic diagnoses were compared with clinical, radiographic, EUS-determined staging, and patient follow-up data. All EUS/EUS-FNA procedures used a standard radial and/or linear echo endoscope. Direct smears from the aspirated material were stained by Papanicolaou and Diff-Quik methods.

RESULTS

We studied 84 patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinomas and 15 patients with gastric carcinomas. EUS-FNA confirmed N0 status for 100% of patients with T1 and T2 tumors and for 93% of patients with T3 tumors. Patients with T1N0 carcinomas confirmed by EUS were selected for endoscopic mucosal resection. All patients with gastric carcinomas had EUS-determined stage T3 and above tumors. Based on primary tumor stage, all patients with gastric carcinomas received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Cytologic diagnosis by EUS-FNA agreed with EUS nodal staging in 77% of the patients with UGC. EUS-FNA was useful to select patients with T1N0 esophageal or gastroesophageal junction carcinomas for endoscopic mucosal resection. EUS-FNA did not contribute significantly in treatment of patients with higher stage tumors whose disease was down-staged to N0 by EUS-FNA. These patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy based on the status of the primary tumor.

Computed tomography scan as a tool to predict tumor T category in resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement and tumor size of resectable esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) assessed on computed tomography could predict T category.

METHODS

One hundred eighty-five consecutive patients with ESCC underwent radical esophagectomy less than 3 weeks after contrast-enhanced computed tomography. The degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement and tumor size of ESCC expressed as tumor length, maximal thickness, and gross tumor volume were evaluated on computed tomography. Statistical analyses were performed to identify whether degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement and tumor size could predict T category.

RESULTS

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with whole esophageal circumferential tumor involvement was more likely to be at T3 category, whereas tumor without this involvement was more likely to be at T1 or T2 category (p < 0.001). Degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement could distinguish ESCC at T1/T2 from ESCC at T3 category with a sensitivity of 77.4% and specificity of 74.8%. Tumor length, maximal thickness, and gross tumor volume increased with advancing T category (p < 0.001). Mann-Whitney tests showed that tumor size could distinguish T category (p < 0.001). Compared with degree of esophageal circumferential tumor involvement, tumor length, and maximal thickness, gross tumor volume could be a better differentiating indicator between T1 and T2 categories (cutoff, 5.15 cm(3)), between T1 and T3 categories (cutoff, 11.1 cm(3)), between T2 and T3 categories (cutoff, 17.75 cm(3)), and between T1/T2 and T3 categories (cutoff, 15.9 cm(3)), with sensitivity of 81.3%, 88.8%, 68.8%, and 78.8%, and specificity of 76%, 88%, 67.5%, and 75.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Gross tumor volume of resectable ESCC measured with computed tomography could be a recommended indicator for predicting T category.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with special reference to its early stage

The term 'early squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus', which was previously restricted to superficial carcinoma with no lymph node metastasis, now encompasses intramucosal carcinoma regardless of the nodal status. Such lesions are rare in Western countries, where the experience is limited. In recent years, the development and greater use of chromoendoscopy and narrow band imaging (NBI), both of which facilitate the evaluation of mucosal morphology, have played an important role in the detection of early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, the techniques and indications of endoscopic resection (mucosal resection [EMR] and mucosal dissection [ESD]) are still being refined. In the present article, we will discuss the clinical and pathologic features of esophageal early squamous cell carcinoma, as well as the epidemiology and aetiology of esophageal cancer in general. In addition, we will provide a therapeutic decision tree taking into account endoscopic and surgical modalities as they apply to early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Current treatment options for the management of esophageal cancer

In recent years, esophageal cancer characteristics and management options have evolved significantly. There has been a sharp increase in the frequency of esophageal adenocarcinoma and a decline in the frequency of squamous cell carcinoma. A more comprehensive understanding of prognostic factors influencing outcome has also been developed. This has led to more management options for esophageal cancer at all stages than ever before. A multidisciplinary, team approach to management in a high volume center is the preferred approach. Each patient should be individually assessed based on type of cancer, local or regional involvement, and his or her own functional status to determine an appropriate treatment regimen. This review will discuss management of esophageal cancer relative to disease progression and patient functional status.

Improving the quality of pretreatment staging in patients with esophageal carcinoma - a fast track study

BACKGROUND

Current guidelines for esophageal cancer recommend series of diagnostic investigations to determine pretreatment TNM stage. When investigations are done sequentially, diagnostic work-up time may be prolonged considerably. Aim of the study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a fast track staging strategy within five days after the first consultation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 2007 and 2010 all patients presenting with esophageal cancer at the Department of Gastroenterology in a tertiary referral center were prospectively analyzed. At Day 1 all patients underwent computed tomography (CT), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and ultrasonography of the neck (US). Results and treatment implications were discussed within a multidisciplinary meeting. This fast track strategy was considered completed successfully if pre-treatment TNM classification was achieved and therapy was proposed to the patient at the outpatient clinic at Day five. In those cases where staging period time was prolonged, the number and type of additional tests were documented including the ensuing time delay.

RESULTS

In 111 patients CT, EUS and US were performed in 100%, 88.3% and 97.3% respectively. A final TNM stage and treatment proposal was reached at Day 5 in 60% of the patients. Additional tests were diverse and mainly used to prove local irresectabilty or presence of distant metastasis. Multivariate analysis identified presence of lymphadenopathy (HR 0.25 p = 0.03) and metastasis (HR 0.27 p = 0.03) as significant predictors of not completing the staging period within five days. In 18% of patients overuse of at least one test occurred, most commonly because CT already revealed distant metastasis.

CONCLUSION

Employment of a fast track five day staging strategy in patients with esophageal carcinoma is feasible. Definite TNM stage and treatment proposal can be achieved in 60% of cases, but comes at the expense of test overuse in about one fifth of patients.

Tumor length assessed by miniprobe endosonography can predict the survival of the advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with stricture receiving concurrent chemoradiation

There were tumor strictures commonly encountered in the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) to limit the conventional echoendoscope for exact tumor staging and size measurements. This study evaluated the role of miniprobe endosonography (EUS) to predict the survival of ESCC patients after concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT). This study prospectively enrolled ESCC patients to receive high-frequency miniprobe EUS for the assessments of the tumor size and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage. For the patients defined with advanced stages to receive CCRT as initial therapy, the tumor size parameters assessed by EUS were analyzed for their correlation with the treatment response and the patients' survivals. Fifty-four patients, >96% with advanced TNM stage III or IV, were enrolled with a medium follow-up of 320.5 days. Almost all of the 54 cases had partial or complete stricture of the esophageal lumens due to the tumor obstructions at enrollment. The overall median survival was 18.6 months, and the 1- and the 2-year survival rates were 64.9 and 45.2%, respectively. Patients with initial tumor length <6 cm assessed by the pre-CCRT EUS had a better survival than those with length ≥6 cm (median survival: >56.5 months vs. 11.5 months, P= 0.006). The patients with initial tumor length <6 cm had a higher rate of downstage than those with tumor length ≥6 cm after the first course of CCRT (80.0% vs. 16.7%, P= 0.035). Multivariate Cox regression confirmed the initial tumor length (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.21, P= 0.034) as well as the presence of distal metastasis are both independent predictors of the survival in ESCC patients receiving CCRT. For the ESCC patients, commonly with tumor stricture, the miniprobe EUS to assess tumor length before CCRT can predict the treatment response and the survivals.

ALCAM (CD166) expression and serum levels are markers for poor survival of esophageal cancer patients

The expression of the activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM and CD166) is increased in various types of cancer. We aimed to evaluate its role as a prognostic marker for esophageal cancer (EC). We retrospectively analyzed ALCAM expression in 299 primary lesions, 147 lymph node and 46 distant metastases from EC patients, on a tissue microarray using immunohistochemistry. Bone marrow samples from representative cancer patients (n = 16), taken before primary surgery, were stained by double-immunofluorescence for ALCAM and cytokeratins (CK). Blood serum samples from 236 cancer patients and 127 controls were analyzed for serum ALCAM (s-ALCAM) by ELISA. The immunohistochemical analysis showed increased ALCAM expression in the majority of lesions (primary tumor 71%, lymph node 76% and distant metastases 80%). ALCAM expression was not associated with histopathological parameters except for tumor grading (p = 0.015). ALCAM-positive patients had significantly worse recurrence-free and overall survival (OS; p = 0.002). Disseminated tumor cells (DTC) in bone marrow showed two phenotypes, ALCAM+/CK+ (36%) and ALCAM-/CK+ (64%). Multivariate analysis revealed that ALCAM expression and elevated s-ALCAM serum values are powerful prognostic variables for OS in patients with EC (hazard ratio [HR] 3.987, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.906-8.340, p < 0.001 and HR 1.915, 95%CI 1.021-3.592, p = 0.043). The results of our study provide preliminary evidence for the potential clinical utility of ALCAM as a prognostic biomarker for EC, which might be a basis for future clinical application. In addition, ALCAM expression in a subset of DTC of the bone marrow indicates a potential function in the metastatic cascade of EC.

Endoscopic ultrasound for non-gastroenterologists: what you need to know

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) combines the use of flexible fiberoptic endoscopes with high-resolution ultrasound technology. It is increasingly used for the evaluation, staging, and diagnosis of many luminal and extraluminal gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, as well as non-GI tract ailments, including the staging of lung cancer. In the past decade, EUS has become available on a wide scale, with an increasing number of indications. The technology has been shown to be comparable with and often more sensitive than computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging in staging many malignancies. The use of fine-needle aspiration and ultrasound-guided injection also allows for accurate tissue diagnosis and therapy of GI ailments. Despite increasing availability and indications for EUS over the past decade, general internists may not be aware of EUS technology, when to order an EUS, and how to integrate the results of an EUS into their management decisions. This article will review the general indications for EUS referral, limitations, and role of EUS in the practice of general medicine.

A new endoscopic classification system of early-stage esophageal carcinoma and its usefulness in assessing the infiltration depth of esophageal carcinoma

The growth pattern, height, and depth of early esophageal carcinoma were observed under gastroscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography. The infiltration depth of carcinomas was determined pathologically. Early esophageal carcinomas were classified into five types by endoscopy: surface propagating growth, intraluminal growth, intramural growth, bilateral growth, and mixed growth. Intramucosal and submucosal carcinomas were differentiated on the basis of the different types, height of intraluminal growth and bilateral growth, and depth of intramural growth type. The accuracy of differentiate diagnosis was 87.2%. Our results indicate that this new endoscopic classification system can accurately differentiate intramucosal and submucosal infiltration of early-stage esophageal carcinomas.

A study comparing endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and computed tomography (CT) in staging oesophageal cancer and their role in clinical decision making

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) are part of the regular preoperative staging protocol in oesophageal cancer. At present, EUS is increasingly being used for preoperative locoregional staging of oesophageal cancer. The aim of this study is to compare EUS and CT findings and their role in clinical decision making.

METHODS

The CT staging of 30 patients with oesophageal carcinoma was compared with EUS. This is a single centre-based study, and the EUS was carried out by a single operator.

RESULTS

The mean age was 58.2 years. On EUS, one (3.3%), five (16.7%), 16(53.3%) and eight (26.7%) patients had T1, T2, T3 and T4 tumours, respectively, compared with CT which showed 12(40%), nine (30%) and seven (23.3%) patients with T2, T3 and T4 tumours. On CT, two (6.7%) were shown as no tumour (T0). EUS revealed lymph node involvement in 25 (83.3%) patients compared with CT which indicated lymph node involvement in seven (23.3%) patients. On EUS, coeliac node involvement was shown in four (13.3%) patients (M1). The TNM staging of CT and EUS were comparable in nine (30%) patients. EUS staging revealed a more advanced stage of oesophageal cancer in 17 (56.7%) patients. Preoperative EUS staging changed the decision of management in 15 (50%) patients (P < 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

EUS staging revealed a more advanced stage of cancer in the majority of patients. It appears to be far more superior in detecting lymph node involvement compared with CT. Therefore, EUS may have a significant impact on deciding the treatment modality of a patient with oesophageal carcinoma.

Optimal endoluminal treatment of Barrett's esophagus: integrating novel strategies into clinical practice

Endoluminal therapy has become the first-choice treatment over the last 5 years for early Barrett's neoplasia limited to the mucosa. Long-term follow-up data on endoscopic resection have demonstrated the oncological safety of endoscopic resection in comparison to surgery. However, there is a high rate of recurrent disease, which can be avoided using additional ablation of the remaining Barrett. Radiofrequency ablation was recently introduced as an efficacious means to ablate Barrett's epithelium with a better safety profile than older ablation techniques. Recent studies show that endoscopic resection can be safely combined with radiofrequency ablation for treating dysplastic Barrett's after removal of visible lesions. This constitutes a completely new treatment paradigm that will be integrated in routine clinical practice in the forthcoming years.

Comparison of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT) in the preoperative locoregional staging of resectable esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) has been a useful method for the accurate staging of esophageal cancer. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of EUS, positron emission tomography (PET), and computed tomography (CT) in the locoregional staging of resectable esophageal cancer.

METHODS

A total of 109 patients with resectable esophageal cancer were prospectively enrolled and retrospectively reviewed for evaluation of preoperative EUS, PET, and CT. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of tumor depth (T) staging and regional lymph nodal (N) staging for each test were compared with the postoperative histopathologic stage as the gold standard.

RESULTS

The overall accuracy of EUS for T staging was 72%, and it was the only method for delineating the layers of the esophageal wall. The sensitivities for N staging were 42% for EUS, 49% for PET, and 35% for CT, and their specificities were, respectively, 91, 87, and 93%. The accuracy for N staging was 66% for EUS, 68% for PET, and 63% for CT, and it did not differ significantly across the three tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative EUS for the locoregional staging of esophageal cancer provides excellent T staging accuracy and similar accuracy for N staging compared with PET and CT. Especially in T staging, EUS could play an important role in the choice of candidates for esophageal cancer surgery.

Endosonography of high-grade intra-epithelial neoplasia/early cancer

Endosonography (EUS) is frequently used for staging of early malignant gastrointestinal lesions. High-grade intra-epithelial neoplasia (HGIN) and mucosal cancer have a very low risk for lymphatic metastasis and therefore are suitable for endoscopic therapy. In HGIN and early oesophageal and gastric cancer, high-frequency miniprobes can provide detailed imaging of the different layers. However, diagnostic accuracy differentiating between mucosal and submucosal disease is not sufficient, and therefore (diagnostic) endoscopic resection should be performed in all localisable lesions to detect submucosal cancer at risk for lymph node metastasis. EUS for lymph node staging is considered to be the method with the highest accuracy, especially compared with computed tomography.

Endoscopic polypectomy: A promising therapeutic choice for esophageal carcinosarcoma

Esophageal carcinosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor composing of both carcinomatous and sarcomatous elements. Endoscopic therapy is less invasive and may represent an alternative to esophagectomy for superficial esophageal carcinosarcoma. Here, we report a 61-year-old male who was diagnosed as esophageal carcinosarcoma and underwent endoscopic polypectomy with well tolerance and favorable prognosis. We also present a brief review of the literature.

Minimally invasive esophagectomy for malignant and premalignant diseases of the esophagus

Minimally invasive approaches increasingly are used to treat esophageal cancer and Barrett's esophagitis with high-grade dysplasia. The goals of a minimally invasive esophageal resection are to provide sound oncologic therapy while minimizing morbidity. This article describes the technique the authors use for laparoscopic-thoracoscopic esophagectomy. Comparison data are presented for alternative endoscopic therapy primarily used in candidates not suitable for surgery.

Staging and restaging of advanced esophageal cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Esophageal cancer staging continues to evolve, especially for advanced cases. Computer tomography (CT) scan of the thorax and abdomen to detect metastatic disease, and endoscopic ultrasound with fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) remain the preferred methods. Several recent studies have evaluated alternative methods for locoregional and distant disease detection and staging.

RECENT FINDINGS

There seems to be emerging roles for fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-PET, laparoscopic staging, and high-resolution T2-weighted MRI in esophageal cancer staging. Perfusion CT and FDG-PET and FDG-PET/CT may have an emerging role in assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy. Restaging following neoadjuvant therapy remains suboptimal. A 50% or more reduction of tumor thickness by EUS postchemotherapy continues to be the best measure for tumor downstaging survival, while FDG-PET/CT may be more accurate than EUS-FNA and CT scan for predicting nodal status and complete responders after neoadjuvant therapy. Potential methylation analysis, digital image analysis, and fluorescence in-situ hybridization on EUS-FNA samples may increase the yield and prove to be better than routine cytology.

SUMMARY

For advanced esophageal cancer, locoregional staging is best performed with EUS-FNA, with CT scan of the thorax and abdomen and FDG-PET, to detect metastatic disease. The role of EUS in restaging following neoadjuvant therapy remains controversial, with recent studies showing that FDG-PET/CT may be more accurate than EUS-FNA and CT scan for predicting nodal status and complete responders after neoadjuvant therapy.

Current utilization and performance status of endoscopic ultrasound in a community hospital

OBJECTIVE

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an essential tool for cancer staging and investigating gastrointestinal diseases. Although it is not a widespread skill, as its expanded indications became much more advanced so did its popularity and hospital acceptance. We aimed to study the utilization and indications of upper EUS in a Hong Kong community hospital. The secondary aim was to assess our accuracy in staging of esophageal and gastric cancer and in evaluating submucosal tumors.

METHODS

All patients who had undergone upper EUS in Tuen Mun Hospital from January 2002 to December 2006 were recruited. Their background data, indications, radiological investigations, upper endoscopy and operation records and histopathologic results were retrieved for analysis. The accuracy of EUS in esophageal cancer staging, gastric cancer staging and evaluating submucosal tumors was assessed by comparing surgical and histopathologic findings.

RESULTS

A total of 645 upper EUS examinations were performed and there has been a steady increase in EUS utilization in our hospital. The most common indications were evaluating submucosal tumors and staging esophageal and gastric cancer. The accuracy of T and N staging of esophageal cancer was 71.2 and 79.7%, respectively and for gastric cancer was 64.0 and 74.7%, respectively. Endoscopic ultrasound was 70% accurate in identifying lesions arising from the submucosal layer and 100% accurate in identifying lesions from the muscularis propria.

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic ultrasound is an accurate method and its demand is increasing. The performance in a community hospital can be further improved and its utilization should expand to other indications.