ESOPHAGEAL SQUAMOUS CARCINOMA

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a tumor with poor prognosi s; it is usually in an advanced state when first diagnosed. Because a multimodal treatment approach is currently used, proper tumor staging is essential to determine whether therapy should be directed toward cu re or palliation. Important prognostic features of squamous cell carci noma include the depth of tumor infiltration into or through the esoph ageal wall and the presence of distant metastases. Imaging strategies should not be limited to visualization of the tumor but also should be directed toward accurate pretreatment staging. In this article, the a uthors review the use of barium swallow, CT scans, and endoscopic ultr asonography both alone and in combination to visualize and stage esoph ageal carcinoma. The strengths and limitations of each modality are al so discussed.