Published online Jun 16, 2017. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v9.i6.243
Peer-review started: February 12, 2017
First decision: March 28, 2017
Revised: April 10, 2017
Accepted: May 3, 2017
Article in press: May 5, 2017
Published online: June 16, 2017
Processing time: 139 Days and 2.3 Hours
An accurate staging is necessary to select the best treatment and evaluate prognosis in oncology. Staging usually begins with noninvasive imaging such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography. In the absence of distant metastases, endoscopic ultrasound plays an important role in the diagnosis and staging of gastrointestinal tumors, being the most accurate modality for local-regional staging. Its use for tumor and nodal involvement in pre-surgical evaluation has proven to reduce unnecessary surgeries. The aim of this article is to review the current role of endoscopic ultrasound in the diagnosis and staging of esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancer.
Core tip: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has an important role in staging, establishing prognosis and optimizing therapeutic decisions. Also, it has proved to be a useful alternative therapeutic modality in surgery. In terms of cost-benefit, it reduces the number of unnecessary diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, leading to lower morbidity and mortality rates and reduced cost in cancer treatment. This review summarizes the current role of EUS in the diagnosis and staging of esophageal, gastric and colorectal cancer.