Intra-aortic ultrasonography in advanced esophageal cancer.

Thirty-one advanced esophageal cancer patients underwent preoperative intra-aortic ultrasonography (IAUS), and aortic invasion was found in nine patients. In five patients, the aortic invasion was diagnosed as limited in the aortic adventitia, enabling the preoperative prediction of the tumors. The aortic invasion to all layers was visualized by IAUS in four cases. Intra-aortic ultrasonography provides important information to determine the resectability of advanced esophageal cancer.