Preoperative staging of esophageal carcinoma with multidetector CT and virtual endoscopy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), including virtual endoscopy (VE) for detection, precise localization, preoperative evaluation and staging of esophageal cancer (EC) by comparison with surgical and histopathological findings.


METHODS
Between September 2003 and April 2005, 44 patients with histologically proven EC underwent MDCT and VE. Among 44 patients, the findings were confirmed in 24 at surgery. The accuracy of three-dimensional MDCT for detection, localization, and staging of EC was determined, and compared with surgical finding and histopathology.


RESULTS
The overall accuracy of three-dimensional multidetector row CT for detection of EC was 100% (24/24). MDCT staging was correct in 20 patients (83.3%). The T parameter was correctly assessed in 22 (91.7%) cases (understaged in 1 and overstaged in 1). The N parameter was correctly evaluated in 20 (83.4%) patients (understaged in 2 and overstaged in 2). The overall accuracy of VE for the morphologic classification of EC was 81.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-dimensional MDCT, along with VE is a promising method for preoperative evaluation and staging of EC. Although accuracy in N staging remains low in comparison to PET, it provides a larger amount of diagnostic and staging information.
Onbaş
Omer
O
Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Eroglu
Atilla
A
Kantarci
Mecit
M
Polat
Pinar
P
Alper
Fatih
F
Karaoglanoglu
Nurettin
N
Okur
Adnan
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014584:User-Computer Interface