Data extraction Data were extracted from the studies selected using data extraction forms. Numerical values of staging performance for the completion of 2 x 2 contingency tables were extracted. Descriptive summaries were prepared for the other types of study where quantitative analysis was not feasible. Similar analysis for the discrimination of lymph node Stage N0 from N1 and above was performed. Quantitative synthesis was not applicable for the studies of staging impact, therapeutic impact, patient outcome or health economics.
Results is a bullet.
There was very little evidence regarding therapeutic impact, patient outcome and health economics. Conclusions is a bullet. Initial indications are that the performance for T staging at the cardia is less good. Non-traversable stenosis does reduce the staging performance of EUS, but evidence on whether this reduction justifies the risk of dilatation was not available. The studies available on the use of miniprobes report a high performance for discrimination between mucosal and submucosal cancer.