Comparison of mini-probe endoscopic ultrasonography with computed tomography scan in preoperative staging of esophageal cancer

Objective:To compare mini-probe endoscopic ultrasonography(MCUS)with computed tomography(CT)in pre-operative T and N staging of esophageal cancer,and to find out the MCUS parameters to judge lymph nodes metastasis for esophageal cancer.Methods:Thirty-five patients received both MCUS and CT preoperatively,on both of which the T and N stages were determined.The accuracy,sensitivity,specificity,positive predicting value and negative predicting value were compared with the postoperative pathological results.Results:The accuracy of MCUS was 85.7% in T staging and 85.7% and 80.0% in N staging by two different methods,which were 45.7% and 74.3%,respectively,by CT.Conclusion:MCUS is better than CT in preoperative staging for esophageal cancer.The ratio of short to long axis(S/L)combined with short axis is a useful way to determine lymph nodes metastasis.