Ultrasonographic detection of lymph-node metastases in superficial carcinoma of the esophagus.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

The presence or absence of lymph-node metastasis is the single most important factor in determining the strategy for treating superficial carcinoma of the esophagus. In this study, ultrasound (US) and endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) were used in the diagnosis of lymph-node metastases, and the accuracy and limitations of these methods were assessed.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Prospectively, 37 patients with superficial esophageal cancer were studied by US and EUS before surgery, and the results were compared with the histological findings. Twelve of the patients had histologically confirmed lymph-node metastases. Ultrasonographic images of the lymph nodes were classified into three types, based on their boundaries and internal echoes.

RESULTS

The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of predicting mediastinal lymph-node metastasis by EUS diagnosis were 80.0%, 87.5%, and 86.5%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of US in the assessment of cervical and abdominal lymph-node metastasis were 71.4%, 86.7%, and 83.3%, respectively. In cases in which there was a solitary metastatic lymph node, the detection rate was higher than in cases with two or more positive nodes. Most metastatic lymph nodes correctly diagnosed by US and EUS were larger than 6 mm and had tumor involving more than one-third of their cross-sectional area.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with superficial esophageal carcinomas, US is accurate in staging cervical and abdominal lymph nodes. EUS is accurate in staging mediastinal lymph nodes.