Cytology in the diagnosis of oesophageal cancer

The value of brush cytology under direct vision in the diagnosis of oesophageal cancer was evaluated and compared with other diagnostic procedures in a prospective study of 33 patients suspected of having an oesophageal lesion. Barium swallow correctly diagnosed cancer in 19 out of 20 patients, the remaining patient was diagnosed by both histology and cytology. In all, cytology was correct in 18 cases (90%), whereas histology confirmed the diagnosis in 10 (50%). In the 13 patients with benign lesions, barium swallow was correct in 12; cytology was benign in all 13; biopsy was only possible in 9, although the results of this procedure were always correct. Thus barium swallow is still the ideal screening procedure for patients with oesophageal symptoms, but per-endoscopic brush cytology seems to be the method of choice for confirmation of the diagnosis.