Pre-operative estimation of complete resection for patients with oesophageal carcinoma

Three hundred and seventy-nine patients were studied retrospectively regarding the possibility of a complete resection of the oesophageal carcinoma based on the combined findings of pre-operative oesophagogoraphy and computed tomography (CT). One hundred and four out of 129 patients (96.1%) having lesions which did not demonstrate all three of the aforementioned factors (a lesion shorter than 8 cm, a normal oesophageal axis, and normal contact of the lesion with neighboring organs in CT) underwent a complete resection of the oesophageal lesion. Fifty-three percent of the patients (52/97) with a lesion showing only one of these factors had a complete resection. Whereas, on the other hand, a complete removal of the malignancy was only possible in 22% of the patients with two or all three of the findings. Moreover, as a result of further analysis limited for resected cases, the number of positive factors in these pre-operative findings correlated with the advancement of the surgical stage, which reflected a curability in surgery and a rate of postoperative complications. In order to make adequate plans for the treatment of patients with advanced oesophageal cancer, the finding of (i) the length of lesion, (ii) a deep ulceration and deformity of the oesophageal axis and (iii) any abnormal contact in CT, are considered to be very useful.