Computed tomography in staging of oesophageal carcinoma

The computed tomographic (CT) findings in 45 patients with histologically proved oesophageal carcinoma are reviewed. In 20 of these patients the CT findings were correlated with findings at surgery (19 patients) or autopsy (1 patient). Correlation analysis showed that the accuracy of CT in assessing both invasion of adjacent organs and mediastinal and abdominal lymph node involvement is limited. Twenty-five patients were considered inoperable; in 15 of these the conclusion was based on CT findings of distant metastases (14 patients) or definite local invasion (1 patient). Ten patients were inoperable for other reasons (general health condition). We found the value of CT to be in detecting distant metastases, thus avoiding unnecessary radical surgery; it is not a reliable way of defining the primary tumour.