Chromoesophagoscopy in the early diagnosis of esophageal cancer

Authors report their own experience on the use of vital staining methods in the diagnosis of esophageal diseases. In this part of the alimentary tract Lugol and Toluidine Blue are the most frequently used dyes, the former being more indicated in the study of inflammatory lesions, in the follow-up of controls and in assessing therapeutic results; the latter being more indicated in the screening of high risk patients, as it allows the identification of even minimal neoplastic lesions that can be accurately biopsied. With this method the incidence of errors in sampling is remarkably reduced for the increased diagnostic accuracy and, as a consequence, the higher percentage of early diagnosis.