Usefulness of the Miniature Ultrasonic Probe for Submucosal Tumors of the Large Intestine

Cheon, Young Koog; Kim, Jin Oh; Jung, Jun Sung; Jang, Jae Young; Cheon, Gab Jin; Cha, Sang Woo; Cho, Joo Young; Lee, Joon Seong; Kim, Yun Soo; Lee, Moon Sung; Shim, Chan Sup

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic ultrasonograpy can provide detailed information about gastrointestinal wall structure and adjacent organs. However there have been few studies about submucosal lesions of the large intestine. We evaluated the usefulness of the miniature ultrasonic probe in the submucosal tumors of the large intestine.
METHODS
The miniature ultrasonic probe was applied to 25 patients who had suspicious submucosal lesions of the large intestine, by barium enema or colonoscopy. We evaluated the size, internal echogenecity, border characteristics, and layer of origin of the submucosal lesions by endosonographic findings. The endosonographic images of the lesions were compared with the histologic findings.
RESULTS
The lipomas (n=9) were visualized as hyperechoic masses and the carcinoids (n=7) were all hypoechoic masses in the 3rd layer. The lymphangiomas (n=6) were visualized as cystic lesions with septal structures. The granulomas (n=2) were hypoechoic or hyperechoic mass in 3rd layer. Leiomyoma (n=1) was hypoechoic mass in the 2nd layer. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 96%.
CONCLUSIONS
The miniature ultrasonic probe scanning is useful in the diagnosis of submucosal lesions of the large intestine. It is also a simple and convenient procedure to assess submucosal tumors of the colon during the total colonoscopic procedure.