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Modified soft-balloon methods during ultrasonic probe examination for superficial esophageal cancer
H Inoue1, T Kawano, K Takeshita
1First Dept. of Surgery, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan.
Background And Study Aims:
In ultrasonic probe studies for early-stage esophageal cancer the original soft-balloon method utilizing a condom had succeeded in obtaining a clear and reproducible picture by keeping deaerated water in a condom; however, the condom, which covered the endoscope lens, eliminated the usual endoscopic sight. Therefore, the authors endeavored to develop a modified method which enables both normal endoscopic observation and ultrasonic probe study with only a single insertion of the endoscope.
Patients And Methods:
Thirty-one patients with superficial esophageal cancer were included in this pilot study. As modifications of the soft-balloon technique, two novel methods of 'wrapping' and 'invagination' were developed.
Results:
These modifications are considered to have solved the above-mentioned problem and enable one to acquire both normal endoscopic photos and ultrasonic probe images during the same insertion of the endoscope.
Conclusion:
In a pilot study novel modifications improved the method of ultrasonic probe study for superficial esophageal cancer.