Assessment of aortic invasion by esophageal carcinoma using intraaortic endovascular sonography.

OBJECTIVE: Accurate preoperative assessment of aortic invasion by esophageal carcinoma is of great importance for planning surgery. We compared the accuracy of intraaortic endovascular sonography with that of CT in the diagnosis of aortic invasion by esophageal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: In this study, intraaortic endovascular sonography was sensitive in detecting aortic invasion; both sensitivity and specificity were 100%. Intraaortic endovascular sonography proved useful in detecting aortic invasion by esophageal carcinoma.