Combined EUS and CT for evaluating gastrointestinal submucosal tumors before endoscopic resection

GOALSThe aim of this study was to evaluate the combination of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and computed tomography (CT) in predicting the maneuvers for therapeutic endoscopy for gastrointestinal submucosal tumors (SMTs). METHODSPatients with SMTs, who were scheduled for endoscopic resection, were randomized to preoperative performance of both EUS and CT (group A) or EUS only (group B). The following data were collectedtherapeutic maneuvers, duration of procedure, dose of propofol, resected lesion size, and complications. RESULTSA total of 36 patients were included in group A and 36 patients were included in group B. Endoscopic submucosal excavation was performed in 43 patients, endoscopic full-thickness resection in 18 patients, and submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection in 11 patients. No significant differences were observed between the two groups (P>0.05). The coincidence rate between the preoperative program and the actual endoscopic procedures in group A was higher than that in group B (83.3 vs. 61.1%, P