title: [Usefulness of Pneumo-64-MDCT in the presurgical evaluation of esophageal cancer].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-surgical characterization and staging of esophageal and esophagogastric union cancer with only one imaging method could be useful for the therapeutic strategy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  1) To evaluate the sensitivity of Pneumo-64-MSCT (PnCT64) in the diagnosis of esophageal-cardial wall thickening in correlation with anatomopathological and postsurgical findings. 2) To evaluate the usefulness of gastric distension in the presurgical planning of esophageal cancer, especially those located in the gastroesophageal junction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients with endoscopic diagnosis of esophageal and cardial cancer were prospectively studied with PnCT64 before surgery. CT's were performed with a 64 row CT scanner and in order to achieve esophageal distension, CO2 was instilled with an automated insufflator through a Foley catheter. Mural thickening was evaluated as well as its scope, shape and anatomic location by using different type of reconstructions. PnCT64 findings were correlated with anatomopathological staging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 21 patients an asymmetric wall thickening was observed with a sensitivity of 86.4% in correlation with anatomopathological findings. Adequate gastroesophageal distension defining the limits of the lesions was achieved in all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PnCT64 showed high sensitivity in the diagnosis of esophageal and cardial thickening. Gastric distension proved to be useful for the presurgical evaluation defining both upper and lower borders of the tumors located in the gastroesophageal junction.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Diagnóstico por Imágenes, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires. marina.ulla@hopsitalitaliano.org.ar
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulla
authors.forename: Demetrio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cavadas
authors.forename: María Inés
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beskow
authors.forename: Ezequiel Levy
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Yeyati
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seehaus
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: García-Mónaco
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011029:Pneumoradiography / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods*