Esophageal Carcinoma: Clinical TNM Staging with Endosonography and Computed Tomography

The prognosis of esophageal carcinoma has remained poordespite improvement of diagnostic modalities. Endosonography and computedtomography were performed for preoperative TNM staging (clinical TNM) ofesophageal carcinoma. Endosonography was superior to computed tomographyfor diagnosing early stages and nonresectability of carcinoma. Endosonographywas also superior to computed tomography in diagnosing regional lymph nodemetastases. For diagnosing nonmetastatic lymph nodes, however, computedtomography was superior. Endosonography was superior for diagnosing celiaclymph node metastases but less accurate in detecting liver involvement. Endosonographywas accurate for clinical TNM staging of esophageal carcinoma.The possibility of performing cytology and biopsy will further enhance thediagnostic value of endosonography