Endoscopic ultrasound versus CT scan for detection of the metastases to the liver: results of a prospective comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) scan is a standard test for the detection of the liver metastases; however, metastases are often missed on the CT scan. OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of the endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)/endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) with CT scan for detection of the liver metastases. DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS: Subjects with newly diagnosed tumors of the lung, pancreas, biliary tree, esophagus, stomach, and colon were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: A CT scan and EUS examination of the liver was performed. EUS-FNA was performed on noncystic liver lesions. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-two cases were enrolled. The presence of liver metastasis was established in 26 cases. The diagnostic accuracy of EUS/EUS-FNA and CT scan was 98% and 92%, respectively (P=0.0578). In comparison to CT scan, EUS detected significantly higher number of metastatic lesions in the liver (40 vs.19; P=0.008). CT scan detected lesions in liver that were too small to be characterized in 8 cases (malignant-3; benign-5). Of these, EUS-FNA correctly characterized the lesion to be malignant in 3/3 cases and benign in 4/5 cases. No complications were observed as a result of EUS-FNA. LIMITATIONS: Endoscopist was not blinded to the findings of the CT scan. CONCLUSIONS: In comparison with the CT scan, there was trend in favor of EUS/EUS-FNA for the superior diagnostic accuracy. EUS was distinctly superior to the CT scan in detecting the number of metastatic lesions. EUS-FNA was also useful to identify the nature of lesions that were too small to be characterized on the CT scan.

EUS for detection of the hepatocellular carcinoma: results of a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and accurate determination of the number of lesions are critical in determining eligibility for liver transplantation or resection. Current diagnostic modalities (CT and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) often miss small lesions. OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of the EUS with CT for the detection of primary tumors of the liver. DESIGN: Prospective single-center study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: Subjects at high risk of HCC (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or alcoholic cirrhosis) were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: US, CT, MRI, and EUS examinations of the liver were performed. Liver lesions identified during EUS underwent EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA). RESULTS: Seventeen patients were enrolled in the study. Nine of these patients had liver tumors (HCC, 8; cholangiocarcinoma, 1). EUS-FNA established a tissue diagnosis in 8 of the 9 cases. The diagnostic accuracy of US, CT, MRI, and EUS/EUS-FNA were 38%, 69%, 92%, and 94%, respectively. EUS detected a significantly higher number of nodular lesions than US (P = .03), CT (P = .002), and MRI (P = .04). For HCC lesions, a trend was observed in favor of EUS for the detection of more lesions than US (8 vs 2; P = .06) and CT (20 vs 8; P = .06). No complications were observed as a result of EUS-FNA. LIMITATIONS: Small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA is a safe and accurate test for the diagnosis of HCC. EUS increases the accuracy of intrahepatic staging of the HCC by delineation of lesions, which are missed by CT and MRI. We recommend EUS for suspected HCC, particularly in cases that are being considered for liver transplantation.

Endoscopic ultrasound as a first test for diagnosis and staging of lung cancer: a prospective study.

RATIONALE: Multiple tests are required for the management of lung cancer. OBJECTIVES: Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) was evaluated as a single test for the diagnosis and staging (thoracic and extrathoracic) of lung cancer. METHODS: Consecutive subjects with computed tomography (CT) findings of a lung mass were enrolled for EUS and results were compared with those from CT and positron emission tomography scans. RESULTS: Of 113 subjects with lung cancer, EUS was performed as a first test (after CT scan) for diagnosis in 93 (82%) of them. EUS-FNA established tissue diagnosis in 70% of cases. EUS-FNA, CT, and positron emission tomography detected metastases to the mediastinal lymph nodes with accuracies of 93, 81, and 83%, respectively. EUS-FNA was significantly better than CT at detecting distant metastases (accuracies of 97 and 89%, respectively; p = 0.02). Metastases to lymph nodes at the celiac axis (CLNs) were observed in 11% of cases. The diagnostic yields of EUS-FNA and CT for detection of metastases to the CLNs were 100 and 50%, respectively (p < 0.05). EUS was able to detect small metastases (less than 1 cm) often missed by CT. Metastasis to the CLNs was a predictor of poor survival of subjects with non-small cell lung cancer, irrespective of the size of the CLNs. Of 44 cases with resectable tumor on CT scan, EUS-FNA avoided thoracotomy in 14% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-FNA as a first test (after CT) has high diagnostic yield and accuracy for detecting lung cancer metastases to the mediastinum and distant sites. Metastasis to the CLNs is associated with poor prognosis. EUS-FNA is able to detect occult metastasis to the CLNs and thus avoids thoracotomy.