Preoperative detection of intrathoracic tumor spread of esophageal cancer: endosonography versus computed tomography.

The results of endosonography and computed tomography, using an optimized CT technique, have been compared in the preoperative detection of intrathoracic tumor spread of esophageal cancer. In 22/40 patients with esophageal tumors complete passage of the ultrasonic endoscope was possible. Endosonography was superior to CT in the assessment of early stage of esophageal tumor (T1-2). Out of 9 tumors confined to the esophageal wall, 8 were classified correctly by endosonography and only 5 by computed tomography. The results in advanced T3 and T4 tumors (13 patients) were comparable following endosonography and computed tomography. Endosonography is an important means of selecting patients with early-stage cancers in whom a curative resection is still a possibility.