[Utility of endoscopic ultra-sonography for esophageal achalasia]

Between August 1987 and July 1992, 19 patients with esophageal achalasia were treated at the Third Department of Surgery, Nihon University School of Medicine. Preoperative EUS was performed in all of them. EUS findings were classified according to thickness of the muscle layer of the esophagus. This classification was compared with X-ray findings, manometric findings and pathological findings of muscle layer which was obtained by operation. There was no correlation between EUS findings and X-ray grade of esophageal dilatation, manometric classification, while there was correlation between EUS findings and X-ray type of esophageal dilatation. EUS findings were not correlative with degeneration of Auerbach's plexus, while there were correlative with the diameter of the muscle cell and their nuclear. The thickness of muscle layer was correlative with grade of seriousness of the disease, and EUS findings, which measure the thickness directory, is useful for the decision of the severity grade and therapy in esophageal achalasia.