Objective    To explore the clinical value of double staining Lugol’s solution and methylene blue combined with miniprobe sonography in diagnosis of early esophageal cancer and precancerous lesions.     Methods    During gastroscopic examination

3% Lugol’s solution was sprayed on the doubtful esophageal lesions first

followed by 0.5% methylene blue spraying on those unstained or weakly stained. The degree and range of the lesions were observed. Biopsies were performed in the lesions stained by methylene blue but not or weakly stained by Lugol’s solution. The lesion’s infiltrative depth was assessed by miniprobe sonography (MPS).     Results    Among 217 cases stained by methylene blue but not or weakly stained by Lugol’s solution

89 cases were diagnosed pathologically as early esophageal cancer

and the left 128 cases showed dysplasia at different degrees including mild dysplasia in 34 cases

moderate in 68 cases and severe in 26 cases. The diagnostic accuracy rate in early esophageal cancer and dysplasia by our double staining was 100%. MPS showed that 116 cases had epithelium mucosae infiltration

37 cases muscularis mucosae infiltration

30 cases had submucosa was infiltration

and 6 cases had the lymph node metastasis. Intraepithelial carcinoma was verified pathologically in 18 cases

muscularis mucosae carcinoma in 32 cases

and submucosal carcinoma in 39 cases. The accuracy rate of MPS in differentiating intramucosal carcinoma from submucosal carcinoma was 89.9%.     Conclusion    The double staining combined with miniprobe sonography is helpful in the detection and diagnosis of early cancer and precancerous lesions of esophagus

and exerts guidable significance in the selection of reasonable treatment method.