Staging Esophageal Carcinoma with US
A study published in the August issue of Minerva Chirurgica, an Italian journal, described the improved ability of endoscopic ultrasound as an approach to stage esophageal carcinoma. This was reported on HealthImaging.com.
The British research team assessed the efficacy of both endoscopic ultrasound and CT of the esophagus in a cohort of patients with cancer as a tool for staging and treatment planning. Treatment plans developed from the two scans were compared against one another. Disease staging was considered in light of pathologic assessment of disease stage (using the TNM system) after surgery.
In over half of the patients, images from endoscopic ultrasound moderated the treatment plan developed from CT scans. Staging based on endoscopic ultrasound was accurate at a rate of 64 percent. The rate of agreement with pathologic assessment increased to 90 percent to differentiate between T2/3 and T1 tumors. As well, ultrasound was superior to CT in assessing disease extension to regional lymph nodes, 72 to 62 percent respectively.
Disease staging for esophageal cancer is particularly critical because it guides treatment planning. With the advent of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for this disease, pre-operative staging guides whether or not this approach is integrated.
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August 7, 2007 Related topics: Imaging, Surgery, Otolaryngology