Understanding the Variation of Modern Endoscopic Ultrasound Use in Patients with Oesophageal Cancer (VALUE)

EUS is an invasive procedure combining upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with ultrasonography. An ultrasound probe located at the end of the endoscope allows direct visualisation of the oesophageal wall layers and adjacent tissues providing local assessment of the depth of tumour invasion and lymph nodes. This assessment informs local tumour (T-) and node (N-) staging which are important prognostic indicators of survival. Patients undergoing EUS require sedation and there are risks of complication. EUS is a specialist investigation requiring many years of dedicated training to perform competently.