Ultrasonographic evaluation of hepatic involvement in esophageal carcinoma

ABSTRACT

Preoperative detection of the presence of liver secondaries does not only influence the choice of the therapeutic modality, but also seriously decreases the expected patient's survival. In this study, the role of ultrasonography in evaluation of hepatic involvement is discussed. Thirty patients, 26 males and 4 females, suffering from carcinoma of the esophagus were submitted to preoperative ultrasonography of the liver. The hepatic involvement was confirmed by thorough intraoperative exploration of the liver or by ultrasonography-guided needle biopsy. Ultrasonography detected liver secondaries in seven cases and missed only one lesion detected during operative exploration, [accuracy of 87.5%]. So, being cheap, simple and noninvasive, ultrasonographic examination of the liver should be a part of the preoperative evaluation regimen for all patients with carcinoma of the esophagus