EVALUATION OF ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY (EUS) IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CANCER OF THE PAPILLA OF VATER

Abstract

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was performed in 18 resected patients with cancer of the papilla of Vater for the evaluation of its preoperative diagnostic accuracy. EUS image of the periampullary region (sphincter of Oddi, layered structure of the duodenal wall and the pancreas) was clearly demonstrated by the transduodenal scanning with the water-filled technique. Tumor of the papilla of Vater was presented in 17 of 18 patients as a hypoechoic mass by EUS. EUS studies showed almost the same high accuracy rate as ERCP studies. EUS findings of the tumors corresponded well with pathological findings. EUS showed high accuracy rates for detection of canser expansion into the duodenal wall (89%), cancer invasion into the pancreas (89%), and pancreatic head lymph nodes (n₁) metastasis (94%). EUS is one of the most useful procedures in the diagnosis for the extension of cancer of the papilla of Vater.