Esophageal cancer CT

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

Overview

CT scan may be used for staging of esophageal cancer. Findings on CT scan suggestive of esophageal cancer include eccentric or circumferential wall thickening, or peri-esophageal soft tissue and fat stranding.

CT

For initial staging of esophageal cancer, CT may be used concomitantly with endoscopic ultrasound or positive emission tomography.^[1]
CT is used to determine the presence of metastatic disease, particularly within stage IV of the disease.
CT can detect the following features:
- Eccentric or circumferential wall thickening >5 mm
- Peri-esophageal soft tissue and fat stranding
- Dilated fluid and debris filling the esophageal lumen
- Tracheobronchial invasion
- Aortic invasion

CT	Sensitivity	Specificity
Detection of celiac lymph node metastases	50%	83%
Detection of regional lymph node metastases	42%	93%

Source:commons.wikimedia.org by Hellerhoff- Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18836867

References

↑ Erasmus JJ, Munden RF (2007). “The role of integrated computed tomography positron-emission tomography in esophageal cancer: staging and assessment of therapeutic response”. Semin Radiat Oncol. 17 (1): 29–37. doi:10.1016/j.semradonc.2006.09.005. PMID 17185195.

Template:WikiDoc Sources

[pmid17185195-1] Erasmus JJ, Munden RF (2007). “The role of integrated computed tomography positron-emission tomography in esophageal cancer: staging and assessment of therapeutic response”. Semin Radiat Oncol. 17 (1): 29–37. doi:10.1016/j.semradonc.2006.09.005. PMID 17185195.

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