Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• MARKLAND, C. G
• MANHIRE, A
• DAVIES, P
• BEGGS, D
• MORGAN, W. E
• SALAMA, F. D

Titel

The role of computed tomography in assessing the operability of oesophageal carcinoma

Ist Teil von

• European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery, 1989, Vol.3 (1), p.33-36

Ort / Verlag

Amsterdam: Elsevier Science B.V

Erscheinungsjahr

1989

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• The reliability of CT scanning in assessing resectability in carcinomaof the oesophagus was investigated prospectively by direct comparison withthe operative findings. Over 11 months, 38 patients judged potentiallyoperable following conventional investigation underwent CT scanning fromthe thoracic inlet to the level of the adrenal glands. These patients werethen explored surgically with a view to resection. The CT findings wereassessed by two radiologists without access to clinical information.Operative findings were recorded by the surgeon. Comparison was madebetween the tomographic and surgical findings specifically assessing:longitudinal tumour extent, direct mediastinal infiltration, invasion ofother mediastinal structures, lymph node involvement and the presence ofhepatic and pulmonary metastases. The sensitivity and specificity of thescan for each feature was then calculated. Scan sensitivity was poor,ranging from 0%-66.7%. Specificity was better with a range of 70.8%-100%according to the criterion studied. We conclude that the poor sensitivitymeans that CT scanning is of little value in the preoperative assessment ofresectability in oesophageal carcinoma.