Endoluminal ultrasonography: a new method to evaluate dysphagia.

Dysphagia consists of various diseases, which all lead to an impaired quality of life. Besides a thorough case history and clinical examination, there is a need for objective diagnostic examinations to evaluate the extent of the disease. The present study includes 38 patients suffering from the most common causes of dysphagia such as benign or malignant strictures of the esophagus, esophagitis, achalasia cardiae, cricopharyngeal dysfunction and motility disorders. The patients were examined by endoluminal ultrasonography using a 2.7 mm-wide-probe. The present study clearly indicates the value of the method in evaluating the extent of the disease in patients suffering from the aforementioned diseases.