Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus: diagnostic value of endoscopic ultrasonography.

Abstract

Primary malignant melanomas of the esophagus have been clinically diagnosed as exophytic tumors by esophagography and esophagoscopy. We first applied endoscopic ultrasonography to the tumors; the tumors were demonstrated as "submucosal tumors" and smooth-surfaced with clear margins, and their internal echo-architectures depended upon the tumor sizes. We consider the disease can be clinically diagnosed by the above three diagnostic modalities.