Endoscopic ultrasonography with three miniature probes of different frequency is an accurate diagnostic tool for...

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) examinations are necessary to determine the vertical cancer invasion depth. In this study, we prospectively performed EUS with three miniature probes of different frequency (12, 20, and 30 MHz) in patients with early gastric cancer scheduled for endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) based on endoscopic findings.

The study included 142 early gastric cancer lesions in 132 patients in our hospital. We then evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the use of three miniature probes of different frequency in the determination of vertical margins. Finally, we evaluated the value of EUS as an additional examination tool used along with conventional endoscopic findings for determination of indication for ESD.

The accuracies of the early gastric cancer invasion depths of the m+sm1 group were 81.0%, 86.0% and 92.3% as measured by the 12-, 20- and 30-MHz probes, respectively. Even though ulceration was associated with the lesions, the 30-MHz probe was the most accurate as compared to the 12- or 20-MHz probes in the m+sml cancer group.

EUS examinations with probes of varying frequency are useful for determining appropriate treatment strategies for early gastric cancer.