[Correlation of diameters measured by x-ray computed tomography and intraparietal extension of squamous cell carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus. Apropos of 101 anatomoradiologic comparisons].

: In order to assess the value of tomodensitometric classification of squamous cell carcinomas of the upper esophagus, which has been recently advocated, we compared the CT-measured diameters and the extent of intraparietal invasion in 101 tumors. According to selected criteria (superficial -T1- tumors: not apparent or less than 10 mm; tumors infiltrating incompletely the muscularis -T2- ; mass less than 10 to less than 20 mm in diameter; tumors extending beyond the muscularis -T3, T4- : diameter greater than or equal to 30 mm), 84/101 tumors were correctly assessed. The positive predictive value for T2 tumors was 73% in the 10 to less than 20 mm diameter range, and 71% for T3 and T4 tumors in the 20 to less than 30 diameter range. Starting from 30 mm, this value was 96% for T3 and T4 tumors. At the close of this study, it appeared that the classification criteria proposed did not have to be modified. CT-scanning is worth using jointly with ultrasonographic endoscopy (more performing when analysing small tumors) for pre-treatment classification of carcinomas of the upper esophagus, owing to the fact that the extent of wall infiltration is one of the elements which need be taken into account when planning therapy: direct surgery or, possibly, combined preoperative radio- and chemotherapy.