The Diagnosis of Subepithelial Lesions in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

The finding of a mass lesion in the upper gastrointestinal tract at endoscopy with normal overlying mucosa is common. The differential diagnosis of these lesions is broad and includes those of intramural or extramural origin. Endoscopic ultrasound provides accurate imaging of subepithelial lesions and characterizes them according to size, echogenicity, and layer of origin if the lesion is intramural. Endoscopic ultrasound allows a guided tissue sample to be obtained for histological confirmation which is especially important for hypoechoic lesions arising from the 3rd or 4th echogenic layers. The purpose of this article is to review the diagnosis of the more common subepithelial lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. (Korean J Helicobacter Upper Gastrointest Res 2011;11:71-74)