CLINICAL EVALUATION OF A NEW DESIGNED THIN ECHO-VIDEOENDOSCOPE

Abstract

A thin echo-video-endoscope for upper GI tract (GF-UMP230) has been newly devel-oped by OLYMPUS Co. Ltd.. As this instrument has one ultrasound scanner of 7.5 MHZ and a smaller CCD, the diameter and lenght of the tip is designed to be smaller and shorter than that of the former model of echo-video-endoscope (GF-UM200). In order to evaluate the clinical use of this new echo-endoscope, 705 cases (246 of upper digestive diseases, 298 of pancreatic diseases and 161 of biliary diseases) were studied in 6 hospitals from March to November of 1997. The endoscopic images of GF-UMP230 were satisfactory for diagnosing small lesions as well as observing the whole GI-tract though it projected a smaller view field on a TV monitor. The ultrasonic images of this eco-endoscope were almost the same as those of 7.5 MHz images of GF-UM200. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS with this scope in detecting the depth of gastric cancer invasion was 77.9%, which was almost equal to that obtained by the former model (79.6%). The advantages of this scope was a good manuevarability, especially easier insertion to the second portion of the duodenum as well as to the esophagus because of its smaller diamter of the shaft and shorter length of the tip. It is concluded, therefore, that this new echo-endoscope will make the EUS study easier and manywidespread as a body imaging diagnotic method.