Analysis of diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of esophageal carcinoma by CT compared with pathology

Objective To assess the rationality of using CT for clinical staging in esophageal carcinoma.Methods 103 esophageal carcinoma patients with radical resection were selected,patients were examined by CT before surgery.To compare the clinical staging on the basis of CT findings with pathology.Results Lymph node enlargement were mentioned in 29 cases (28.2 ％) with CT findings before surgery,but 70 cases (68.0 ％) by pathology.The CT findings and pathology were inconsistent (x2 =11.719,P =0.001).Although the pathology staging in the cases which were positive with CT findings could be later (Z =-3.04,P =0.002),there was no correlation between the two methods (x2 =10.885,r =0.055,P =0.055).Conclusion The accuracy rate in esophageal carcinoma clinical staging by CT before surgery is low.Combining with PET-CT or endoscopic ultrasonography may improve the accuracy rate. Key words: Esophageal neoplasms;  Lymphatic metastasis;  Neoplasm staging;  Computed tomography