BACKGROUND/AIMS For pretherapeutic staging of squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus, endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is considered the most profitable modality because it can provide cross sectional imaging of the tumour. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between prognosis and EUS findings, especially tumour area, in squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.

PATIENTS/METHODS A total of 113 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus underwent EUS for pretherapeutic examination at Nagoya University Hospital. We compared EUS findings, histological results, and outcome. In addition, we measured the area of the tumour on EUS images (n=113) and evaluated if EUS area correlated with volume of the tumour on histological findings (n=50).

RESULTS The overall accuracy rate of EUS was 83.2% (94/113) for depth of tumour invasion and 67.6% (69/102) for perioesophageal lymph node metastasis. The EUS area increased in proportion to the development of tumour infiltration, and patients with lymph node metastasis had a larger EUS area than patients without lymph node metastasis. There was a close correlation between EUS area and volume of the tumour on histological findings. If EUS area of the tumour was less than 50 mm², the five year survival rate was 100%. As EUS area increased, the survival rate decreased.

CONCLUSIONS Measurement of EUS area of the tumour is reliable for quantification of the tumour and prediction of prognosis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus.