Abstract:
Objective To investigate the value of narrow band imaging-magnifying endoscopy (NBI-ME) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) in diagnosing colorectal submucosal carcinoma and to analyze the specific imaging features of submucosal carcinoma.
Methods A total of 259 patients with early-stage colorectal cancer were selected as study subjects. All patients underwent NBI-ME and EUS examinations. The consistency between the results of NBI-ME, EUS, and pathological diagnosis was analyzed. The diagnostic efficacy of NBI-ME, EUS alone, and their combined application for submucosal carcinoma was evaluated. The differences in clinical and imaging features between patients with submucosal carcinoma and intramucosal carcinoma were compared.
Results Among 259 patients, 203 had intramucosal carcinoma and 56 had submucosal carcinoma. The judgments of tumor infiltration by NBI-ME and EUS showed good consistency with the pathological diagnosis results (Kappa=0.706, 0.685, respectively, P < 0.001). The sensitivity and negative predictive value of NBI-ME combined with EUS in diagnosing submucosal carcinoma were higher than those of NBI-ME or EUS alone, while the specificity was lower, with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05). The proportions of patients with submucosal carcinoma having a lesion maximum diameter>2 cm, easily bleeding lesions, and vascular dilation were 71.43%, 46.43%, and 39.29%, respectively, which were higher than those in patients with intramucosal carcinoma (41.87%, 28.57%, and 10.34%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that a lesion maximum diameter >2 cm, easily bleeding lesions, and vascular dilation were all independent risk factors for submucosal carcinoma (P < 0.05).
Conclusion NBI-ME and EUS have certain application value in diagnosing colorectal submucosal carcinoma and intramucosal carcinoma, and their combined application demonstrates better diagnostic efficacy. Patients with early-stage colorectal cancer having a lesion maximum diameter>2 cm, easily bleeding lesions, and vascular dilation are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with submucosal carcinoma.