[The value of computed tomography for the pretherapeutic staging of esophageal cancer].

CT examination was performed in 50 patients with histologically proved carcinoma of the esophagus. In 21 patients the CT findings were compared with the surgical or autopsy specimens. CT is revealed as a valuable diagnostic method for the estimation of infiltrating tumors. Limitations were seen in the precise judgement of the infiltration into the different layers of the adjacent organs and in the recognition of regional lymph node metastases. Nevertheless CT is recommended as a valuable staging procedure in carcinoma of the esophagus.