OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic and application value of pre-operative 64-slice spiral CT evaluation in operation selection for esophagus cancer.

METHODSMulti-slice computed tomography (MSCT) was conducted in 50 patients with esophageal cancer before operation, using the work station for after-treatment to get CT virtual endoscopy (CTVE), multiplanar reconstruction (MRP), shaded surface display (SSD) and Raysum images, and combined with the transect images to record the preoperative MSCT staging and to predict the operation scheme, and compared with the postoperative pathological staging and the actual operational plan.

RESULTSThe diagnostic sensitivity of MSCT for preoperative T staging was 100.0% (50/50), while the N staging was 80.0% (16/20). According to the MSCT prediction, the resection rate of esophageal cancer was 96.0% (48/50). Through the preoperative MSCT evaluation, the accuracy of CT-TNM stage was 90.0%, highly consistent with the pathological TNM stage (Kappa = 0.811, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMSCT can effectively display the shape, size and position of the tumor, determine the tumor invasion range, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis, etc., make preoperative evaluation for esophagus cancer patients and provide evidence for clinicians to predict the operation scheme for esophagus cancer.