Patients with esophageal cancer can undergo CT examination

There are many ways to examine esophageal cancer. CT scan can be performed clinically to clearly diagnose the disease.

CT shows thickening of the wall of esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is characterized by thickening of the esophageal wall and a tumor in the lumen. Most scholars believe that the wall thickness of a moderately filled esophagus is 2-3 mm, and a thickness greater than 5 mm is considered abnormal. Esophageal cancer is manifested on CT as annular or localized wall thickening.

CT scan showing mediastinal lymphadenopathy

Lymph nodes with a diameter of more than 10 mm in the esophageal area, mediastinum and other parts are considered metastasis. If the patient also has lung or mediastinal inflammation, it can cause local lymph node enlargement. Some patients have lymph nodes with a diameter of less than 5 mm, but metastasis has already occurred. Therefore, some scholars have proposed that the morphology of lymph nodes is closely related to whether it has metastasis. Those with flat shapes and blurred edges are less likely to metastasize, while those with oval or spherical shapes and clear and sharp edges are more likely to metastasize. In particular, those with necrosis in the center of the lymph nodes should first consider metastasis.

CT showed invasion of surrounding organs

Esophageal cancer often invades the surrounding trachea, bronchi, aorta and pericardium. The diagnostic criteria for invasion of the above organs are the disappearance of the fat gap between the esophagus and the esophagus or the pressure on the trachea and bronchi. However, most patients with esophageal cancer are thin and do not have enough fat layer. To make a diagnosis of invasion, it is necessary to consider the upper and lower levels or use MPR technology. MPR technology uses computer software to reconstruct the cross-sectional images of spiral CT in three dimensions, which can display the relationship between the tumor and surrounding organs in three dimensions.