1.   Endoscopic ultrasound is usedul in the preoperative staging of oesophageal tumours.

2.   Both endoscopic ultrasound and computed tomography were carried out in all patients.

3.   We therefore conclude the endoscopic ultrasound is better than endoscopic biopsy tissue and computed tomography in assessing correctly the response of oesophageal carcinoma to medical treatment.

4.   The possibility of using endoscopic Doppler ultrasound to detect any large blood vessels lurking in the path of the proposed sphincterotomy has not yet been well evaluated.