Endoscopic ultrasonographic studies on malignant lymphoma of the stomach

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is useful in detecting the depth of invasion of gastric carcinoma. In this paper endoscopic ultrasonographic findings and the degree of intramural infiltration of malignant lymphoma of the stomach were studied as compared with gastric carcinoma with special reference to histological findings. The ultrasonogram of malignant lymphoma showed homogeneous low echopattern which was clearly demarcated, while intermediate and scirrhous type carcinoma revealed heterogeneous echopattern. Homogeneous low echopattern of malignant lymphoma observed by EUS corresponded to its histological findings which showed densely packed monotonous malignant cells without fibrous tissue. Moreover, EUS was thought to be useful to diagnose the degree of intramural infiltration of lymphoma cells and observe characteristic findings of submucosal tumor.