Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Esophageal cancer CT
Introduction
Overview
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
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% |
References
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.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]