[Possibilities of ultrasound diagnosis of esophageal cancer]

The investigation was undertaken to estimate the possibilities of the current ultrasound study (USS) in patients with esophageal cancer for its specifying diagnosis and the evaluation of the efficiency of performed treatment. The paper gives data on the current possibilities of ultrasound diagnosis in patients with esophageal cancer, which, during one study, makes it possible to visualize the tumor, to characterize its sizes and structure, to reveal enlarged regional lymph nodes, and to evaluate the oropharynx and abdominal organs. A definite USS program was used to examine 54 patients with verified esophageal cancer (42 (77.8%) men and 12 (22%) women aged 53 to 76 years). The patients' mean age was 65.3 +/- 4.8 years. The upper, middle, and lower esophagus was involved in 7 (13%), 41 (76%), and 6 (11%) patients, respectively. Most examinees had stages III and IV, received combined chemoradiation therapy. There was satisfactory and good visualization of middle esophageal tumor in 88% of the patients. USS identified enlarged paraesophageal lymph nodes in 22%. Enlarged nodes in the neck and supra- and subclavicular areas were detected in 16 (30%) patients, including 10 patients with stage IVa.