Carcinoid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract: evaluation with endoscopic ultrasonography.

To evaluate the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography for carcinoid tumors, we examined 29 patients with gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors (5 gastric, 7 duodenal, and 17 rectal). The smallest size detectable by endoscopic ultrasonography was 2 mm in diameter histologically. The cross-sectional image of the tumors was primarily oval to round. The internal echo was generally hypoechoic and homogeneous. The margins were clearly visualized, and the contour was somewhat smooth. The tumors were mainly located in the third layer. The second layer covered the tumor with the third layer at its base, and it abutted the tumor and became indistinct near its upper interface. These findings were especially recognized in lesions with submucosal invasion and were similar at all sites. The overall accuracy of determining the depth of invasion using endoscopic ultrasonography was 75% (27 of 36 lesions). Limited to the lesions detectable by endoscopic ultrasonography, the accuracy was 90%. Endoscopic ultrasonography was useful in determining the presence of local metastases. Moreover, endoscopic ultrasonography allowed direct detection of perigastrointestinal lymph node metastases (75%, three of four patients). In conclusion, endoscopic ultrasonography was found to be useful for the staging of gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors by determining depth of involvement and presence of perigastrointestinal lymph node metastases.