| Theme |
Diagnosis and Treatment of Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Submucosal Tumors |
| Title |
Diagnosis of Submucosal Tumors of the Lower Gastrointestinal Tract through Endoscopic Ultrasonography |
| Author |
Kiyonori Kobayashi |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University East Hospital |
| Author |
Miyuki Mukae |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University East Hospital |
| Author |
Taishi Ogawa |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University East Hospital |
| Author |
Kaoru Yokoyama |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University East Hospital |
| Author |
Miwa Sada |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University East Hospital |
| Author |
Wasaburo Koizumi |
Department of Gastroenterology, Kitasato University East Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) plays an important role in the endoscopic diagnosis of submucosal tumors arising in the lower gastrointestinal tract. EUS can produce vertical cross-sectional images of submucosal tumors and evaluate localized layers and internal structures, through echo levels and echo patterns, thus providing useful information for qualitative diagnosis. In particular, lipomas and lymphangiomas produce characteristic EUS findings, allowing diagnosis with EUS alone. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), carcinoids, and granular cell tumors, are difficult to qualitatively diagnose with EUS alone. However, histopathological examination of biopsy specimens is useful for the definitive diagnosis of malignant lymphomas and carcinoids. EUS-guided fine needle aspiration biopsies can be used for the histopathological diagnosis of tumors such as rectal GIST located near the anus, as well as metastatic tumors. |