Endoscopic Ultrasound in Gastric Cancer

The importance of EUS in the management of patients diagnosed with gastric cancer cannot be overstated. As a highly advanced and well-established tool, EUS should be an integral part of any clinician's diagnostic and therapeutic armamentarium. After an initial upper endoscopic examination, EUS plays a crucial role in further assessing the nature of a lesion, whether it presents as a subepithelial lesion or an ulcerated mass. Meticulous attention must be given to the lesion's characteristics, including its relationship to the distinct layers of the gastric wall and its overall morphology. The detailed ultrasonographic properties of a lesion provided by EUS can often facilitate an accurate diagnosis without necessitating a biopsy. In addition to its diagnostic capabilities, EUS is invaluable for gastric staging. It allows for precise assessment of the depth of tumor invasion, evaluation of lymph node involvement, and detection of possible distant metastases. The data presented in this article underscore the high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of EUS, making it a powerful tool in the clinician's toolkit. However, it is important to note that EUS is intended to be used in conjunction with dedicated, protocol-driven cross-sectional imaging techniques to develop a comprehensive and thorough treatment plan. From improved echoendoscopes to better processors, we can expect only greater sensitivity and specificity of this technology in the future, which will enhance our ability to make accurate and timely diagnoses and treatment plans. The most crucial point, however, is that EUS is only a part of the physician's armamentarium and multidisciplinary framework and its appropriate integration into practice ensures that patients get the most cutting edge, accurate, and effective care possible.