Endoscopic Ultrasound Plus Submucosal Injection for Early Esophageal Cancer

Preoperative accurately staging T1a or T1b in early esophageal cancer is vital for the choices of treatment. At present, the main diagnostic method for early esophageal cancer is endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). However, the accuracy of EUS alone is poor. Thus, it is necessary to improve endoscopic ultrasound examination methods. This project is concerning on the efficacy of EUS combining with submucosal injection of saline for staging T1a and T1b-esophageal cancer. Patients and methods: 80 cases of pathological confirmed early esophageal cancer were randomly divided into two groups: endoscopic ultrasonography group (EUS group) and EUS combining with submucosal injecting saline group (EUS+SIS group). All the cases will be performance by endoscopic or surgical resection; postoperative pathologic diagnosis will be obtained involving echo, depth, margin and other features. The EUS results of two groups of patients will be compared with pathologic results. From comparison, the efficacy and accuracy of EUS+SIS for staging T1a and T1b in esophageal cancer patients will be validated. Through this study, the investigators may develop a routine diagnostic and accurately staging method for early esophageal cancer patients.