The application of linear endoscopic ultrasound in the patients with esophageal anastomotic strictures

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the role of linear endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) in the diagnosis and treatment of the anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy for locally advanced esophageal cancer (EC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in patients undergone EUS assessment and endoscopic treatment for anastomotic stricture after esophagectomy for locally advanced EC from January 2010 to December 2014 at Shengjing Hospital. The linear EUS was performed in all the patients to assess the thickness of the esophageal wall, the length and width of the lesion, and to evaluate the severity of anastomotic stricture. According to the EUS features of the lesion, different endoscopic therapy were performed. RESULTS: There were 92 patients enrolled in this study. All the lesions of the patients were assessed by EUS. Eighty-six patients had cicatricial stricture of the esophagus confirmed by EUS, and were treated by endoscopic balloon dilation. Five patients were suspected to have tumor relapses, and the other one had lymphatic metastasis. All the six patients were undergone endoscopic metal stent implantation. The EUS diagnoses of all the patients were confirmed by pathological biopsy. CONCLUSION: Linear EUS is safe and effective for distinguishing the nature of the anastomotic stricture, and should be performed before endoscopic or surgical treatment.