[Staging of esophagus carcinoma]

Prognosis and therapy of esophageal cancer is strongly related to the results of staging. Accurate staging is therefore essential. After initial endoscopic diagnosis with bioptic confirmation of the diagnosis, CT-scan of the chest and upper abdomen should be performed to assess the TNM-stage. In a potentially curable situation without detection of metastases, the TN-stage should be verified by endosonography. The local TN-stage which is decisive for complete local tumour resectability, can only be assessed with sufficient accuracy by endoscopic ultrasonography.