ENDOLUMINAL AND INTRAOPERATIVE ULTRASOUND

In this review we will present the technical requirements, possibilities and limitations of endoluminal and intraoperative ultrasound scanning. With endoluminal ultrasound (ES) it is possible to visualise submucosal, transmural and extraluminal tumours of the gastrointestinal system. Main areas of the use of ES are preoperative staging and postoperative follow-up. With ES it is possible to predict the corret histopathological tumour infiltration in oesophageal carcinoma in 73-92%,in gastric cancer in 67-86%, in pancreatic cancer and carcinoma of the papilla in 82-94% and in carcinoma of the rectum in 80-91% of all cases. Regional lymph node involvement can be assessed correctly in 50-84% of ah patients. Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) increases the possibilities of intraoperative exploration of the liver and the pancreatic gland. If applied it influences the operative strategy in 20-50% of all pancreatic or hepatic resections.